Q3 2025 Recruitment Trends Report

Jobs rose slightly while applications fell, bringing the average to 25 per job. Education led job postings, Manufacturing received the most applications and job boards continued to dominate performance, driving 90% of all applications.

Q3 2025 Recruitment Trends Report
IN THIS REPORT

Wave data from Q3 2025 shows a market holding steady after a strong first half of the year. Job volumes rose slightly while applications fell, easing competition for some roles but keeping demand consistent across key sectors. Job boards continued to dominate performance, Education once again led job posting activity, and Manufacturing remained the top industry for candidate interest. Despite lower overall application numbers, the market remains active, with several industries still attracting high engagement per job.

Quarter Snapshot

  • Jobs posted: +19%
  • Applications: -18%
  • Avg. applications per job: 25 (down by 18)
  • Placements: +36%
  • Most active day for jobs & applications: Tuesday
  • Most jobs posted: Education (30%)
  • Most applications: Manufacturing (14%)
  • Most active job board: CV-Library (16%)
  • Most applications via: Totaljobs (29%)

Quarter snapshot showing jobs up 19% and applications down 18% compared to Q1 2025. Average applications per job at 25, placements up 36%. Education led job postings, Manufacturing received the most applications, and Tuesday was the busiest day for both. CV-Library recorded the highest share of job postings and totaljobs led applications.”
Recruitment activity steadied in Q3, with jobs up 19% and applications down 18% on Q1. Education led job creation, Manufacturing drew the most candidates.

Jobs & applications by month

Candidate activity fluctuated through Q3, with the summer slowdown clearly reflected in the data. Jobs fell in July (-13%) and August (-27%) before rebounding strongly in September (+34%). Applications followed a similar pattern, down in July (-13%) and August (-36%) before stabilising in September (+0.5%).

Although volumes dipped mid-quarter, both jobs and applications stayed close to 2024 averages, showing a stable underlying market. The September rebound indicates renewed confidence from both recruiters and candidates as activity picked up after the summer lull.

Monthly trends chart for July to September 2025 showing job postings and applications declining in July and August before rebounding sharply in September. Jobs rose 34% in September while applications stabilised around the yearly average.
A clear summer slowdown followed by a strong September rebound shows how seasonality continues to shape recruitment activity.

Jobs & applications by quarter

The quarterly data shows a stabilising market following a strong start to the year. Applications dropped by 16% in Q3 while job postings fell slightly by 3%, signalling a more measured pace of recruitment. After sustained growth through Q1 and Q2, the slowdown points to a natural rebalancing between supply and demand rather than a loss of momentum.

This steadier activity suggests the market has reached a new equilibrium, with recruiters maintaining consistent demand but facing fewer applications per role. The result is a more competitive environment for talent, where the focus shifts from volume to quality and speed of response.

Quarterly comparison chart showing jobs down 3% and applications down 16% in Q3 2025 compared to previous quarters. Data illustrates a stabilising market after strong activity earlier in the year.
Applications fell 16% and jobs dipped slightly, signalling a more balanced market as candidate volumes return to normal levels.

Jobs & applications by industry

Education continued to lead job creation in Q3, accounting for 29% of all roles posted, followed by Health & Nursing (14%), Manufacturing (8%), Construction (8%), and Engineering & Utilities (7%). Manufacturing, meanwhile, remained the most attractive sector for candidates, generating 14% of all applications, ahead of Health & Nursing (12%), Education (11%), Engineering & Utilities (10%), and Accountancy (8%).

This ongoing imbalance between job availability and candidate interest highlights familiar pressure points. Education roles remain difficult to fill despite sustained demand, while Manufacturing continues to attract high competition from jobseekers.

Industry breakdown showing Education accounting for 29% of all jobs posted, while Manufacturing attracted 14% of all applications. Health & Nursing, Engineering & Utilities, and Accountancy also featured among the most active industries.
Education generated the most roles, while Manufacturing once again attracted the highest share of applications, highlighting a persistent mismatch between supply and demand.

Average applications per job by industry

The average number of applications per job fell to 25 in Q3, but variation across industries remained wide. Insurance topped the list with 88 applications per job, followed by Catering & Hospitality (81), Retail & Wholesale (62), Travel, Leisure & Tourism (59), and Manufacturing (32).

At the opposite end, Education continued to see the lowest engagement, with just 10 applications per job. Other low-response sectors included Not for Profit & Charities (11), Public Sector & Services (12), Construction (13), and IT & Internet (15). These figures underline the uneven spread of candidate activity across the market, with some sectors facing high competition and others still struggling to attract applicants despite ongoing demand.

Chart displaying average applications per job by industry. Insurance had the highest response with 88 per job, followed by Catering & Hospitality and Retail & Wholesale. Education recorded the lowest response with 10 applications per job.
Application levels varied widely by sector, with Insurance and Hospitality facing intense competition and Education struggling to attract candidates.

Jobs & applications by channel

Job boards remained the primary channel for recruitment in Q3, accounting for 84% of all job postings and generating 90% of all applications. Websites contributed 13% of jobs and 9% of applications, while social media made up the remaining 3% of postings and 1% of applications. On average, job boards delivered around 20 applications per job, compared with three from websites and two from social media.

CV-Library led the quarter for job posting share at 16%, while Totaljobs received the highest share of applications at 29%. These figures reaffirm job boards as the cornerstone of most recruitment strategies, continuing to outperform other channels in both scale and results.

Channel comparison showing job boards responsible for 84% of all job postings and 90% of applications. Websites generated 13% of jobs and 9% of applications, while social media contributed 3% of postings and 1% of applications. CV-Library led job postings, totaljobs led applications.
Job boards continued to dominate, responsible for the vast majority of both postings and applications, reinforcing their central role in recruitment strategies.

Q3 2025 marked a period of stability for the recruitment market. Job activity remained consistent while applications eased, reflecting a more balanced landscape after the high volumes seen earlier in the year. Job boards continued to dominate, Education maintained its position as the leading source of vacancies, and Manufacturing attracted the most candidate interest. As the market steadies, the focus for recruiters shifts from managing volume to improving quality — ensuring that every application counts.

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About these reports

Wave’s regular reports focus on trends within the industry garnered from our exclusive data. Based on WaveTrackR’s jobs and applications data, you can make sense of the market, use the data to help with your recruitment marketing strategy, and help to guide your clients through their sector’s position within the labour market.

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