Recruitment Ghosting

Recruitment ghosting has affected a quarter of UK employers in the last 12 months

Recent research by the CIPD suggests a rise in candidates withdrawing from job offers that they had initially accepted and ghosting their prospective employers.

With a competitive job market, candidates are applying for multiple roles and, understandably, they wish to explore their best career options and compare one employer over another.

However, the trend of recruitment ghosting, where candidates cease all communication with the employer despite having accepted an offer, can cause problems for employers.

Research from the CIPD’s Resourcing and Talent Planning Report in September 2024 found that over a quarter of UK employers had candidates who failed to turn up on their first day within the last 12 months, meaning employers were forced to restart their recruitment process again.

To minimise this risk, employers should engage their candidates as soon as they accept the role in order to reduce any dropout.

One of the main recommendations by the CIPD is to ensure that communication is consistent and regular throughout the recruitment and onboarding process.

This should include information sharing, meet and greets and communication of tailored induction plans.

For further details read the CIPD’s Resourcing and talent planning report