Recruitment activity ramped up in the first quarter of 2025. Jobs rose, applications increased, and placements surged, a strong start to the year. The quarter was kickstarted by a busy January, with application numbers far exceeding the 2024 average. However, while more candidates were active, the average number of applications per job dipped slightly, suggesting a shift in candidate behaviour. Wave data collected from January to March 2025 reveals how the market performed across channels, industries and periods.
Quarter snapshot
- Jobs posted: Increased by 13% compared to Q4 2024
- Applications: Increased by 6% from the previous quarter
- Average applications per job: Dropped to 44, down from 47
- Placements: Increased by 23%, indicating stronger hiring outcomes
- Most active industry (jobs posted): Education – 35% of all jobs
- Most active industry (applications received): Manufacturing – 33% of all applications
- Tuesday: Most jobs posted (21%), and most applications received (18%)
- Job Boards: Accounted for 85% of jobs and 90% of applications
Jobs & applications by month
January delivered a significant spike in activity. Applications were 46% higher than the 2024 monthly average, with strong performance continuing into February (+33%) and March (+37%). In contrast, job posts peaked in January (+3% above the 2024 average) before falling in February (-11%) and March (-6%). The start of the year fuelled a surge in jobseeker activity, even as job volume dipped slightly after January.
Jobs & applications by quarter
Compared to the 2024 average, applications were up 37% in Q1, showing strong engagement from jobseekers. Jobs posted were down by 6%, a minor drop after consistent growth in the second half of 2024. Overall, the gap between job volume and candidate activity widened, reinforcing the importance of smart sourcing and candidate targeting.
Jobs & applications by industry
Education remained the most active industry for job postings, accounting for 35% of all jobs, up from 32% in Q4. However, application volume didn’t follow suit, and Education received just 6% of total applications. Conversely, Manufacturing, which posted only 8% of jobs, attracted 33% of applications, repeating the pattern seen in Q4.
Other key industries for job posts included IT & Internet (10%) and Manufacturing (8%), while high-application sectors also included Health & Nursing (11%) and Engineering & Utilities (9%).
Average application per job by industry
The disparity between industries was once again stark.
Catering & Hospitality and Retail & Wholesale shared the highest average applications per job, with both sectors receiving 175. Media, New Media & Creative also performed strongly, averaging 163 applications per job.
At the other end of the scale, Banking received an average of 17 applications per job, while Public Sector & Services saw only 14. Education, despite being the most active industry in terms of job postings, attracted just 10 applications per job, continuing its trend of struggling to convert job listings into candidate interest.
These results reinforce ongoing challenges in candidate attraction across public-facing sectors, particularly Education, which consistently posts high volumes but struggles to generate applications.
Jobs & applications by channel
Job boards continue to be the dominant force in recruitment. In Q1 2025, 85% of all jobs were posted to job boards and 90% of all applications came from job boards (up from 89% in Q4). Recruitment websites attracted 9% of applications, while social media delivered just 1%, down from 2% in Q4.
When it comes to efficiency, job boards continued to lead with 25 apps per job (up from 24). Websites record 3 apps per job (no change) and Social media 5 apps per job (down from 6)
This data confirms that while recruitment websites and social platforms play a role in brand building and passive attraction, job boards remain the primary driver of active candidate traffic.
Q1 2025 opened the year with strength across most metrics. Job postings rose, applications climbed, and placements saw a significant increase. January, in particular, drove exceptional activity. However, the slight dip in average applications per job points to a change in candidate behaviour, a more targeted approach, or increased job market confidence. Recruiters must continue optimising their strategies across industries and channels to attract the right candidates at the right time.
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