On October 24th, Horizontal Talent CEO Jeremy Langevin spoke on LinkedIn's "State of Staffing" webinar with LinkedIn’s Head of Economics Dr. Kory Kantenga and staffing leaders Matthew Franklin and Jonathan Reynolds. The four discussed the latest macroeconomic shifts, labor market trends and challenges being faced in the staffing industry.
If you missed the webinar, here is a breakdown of Jeremy’s 5 key points:
The “State of Staffing” webinar highlighted the dynamic nature of our industry and the changes we’re embracing to keep pace. As the talent landscape evolves, we remain focused on the future—enhancing our offerings, building technological capabilities and expanding globally. With these strategies in place, we’re well-positioned to support our clients and talent with innovative talent, team and project solutions as we enter this new era of staffing.
If you missed the webinar, here is a breakdown of Jeremy’s 5 key points:
The competitive staffing landscape: An area of concern
The staffing landscape has become increasingly competitive with new entrants—from freelance talent platforms to consulting firms entering the staffing space. To stay relevant, we must expand our service offerings, develop our own platforms and adapt to the demand for offshore and nearshore delivery.
Signs of optimism: An improving labor market
I'm optimistic that the staffing slump is behind us. After the 2021-22 hiring boom and the adjustments that followed, companies are preparing to reinvest in talent, especially as interest rates potentially ease. This shift will likely bring faster hiring in high-demand sectors like IT, creative and digital. With the slack from over-hiring balanced out, I’m confident our industry is poised for upward momentum as we head into this new phase.
The industry’s inevitable convergence
The staffing landscape is converging. Platforms are adding service layers, while traditional firms are adopting tech-driven solutions. This shift shows that firms once solely focused on staffing now face competition from diverse providers, each blending elements of staffing, technology and consulting. Companies that adopt tech-driven solutions and adaptable service models will best meet this growing demand for efficiency. In the evolving landscape, those who innovate will be best positioned to thrive.
Our priorities moving forward: Innovating for long-term success
To keep pace with the industry's transformation, we're embracing tech and AI innovations as key elements of our future. By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows our team to focus on high-value interactions, enabling us to build stronger relationships and drive productivity. This adoption isn’t just about efficiency; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reimagine how our team works, creating space for growth in high-touch areas where human insight is irreplaceable.
Rethinking recruiting: The role of AI in staffing
AI will transform recruiting by streamlining lower-value tasks, allowing recruiters to concentrate on high-value, relationship-building work. While AI can excel in candidate sourcing and drafting communications, it cannot replace the human touch essential for client and candidate relationships. This technological shift will enable recruiters to significantly boost their productivity—those who adapt will place more talent, faster.
The “State of Staffing” webinar highlighted the dynamic nature of our industry and the changes we’re embracing to keep pace. As the talent landscape evolves, we remain focused on the future—enhancing our offerings, building technological capabilities and expanding globally. With these strategies in place, we’re well-positioned to support our clients and talent with innovative talent, team and project solutions as we enter this new era of staffing.