The staffing industry in 2025 is evolving in response to technological advancements and shifting workplace expectations.

To attract and retain top talent, employers must adopt new strategies in talent acquisition. Key trends shaping recruitment this year include:

1) AI’s Expanding Role in Recruitment

• 67% of TA professionals anticipate increased AI usage, though 40% worry about its impersonal nature.
• AI enhances productivity but lacks the ability to address high-level strategy needs, like identifying talent gaps or interpreting non-verbal cues.
• This gap presents an opportunity for staffing agencies to act as a bridge between AI-driven efficiency and human insight.

2) Shift to Skills-Based Hiring

• Degree and experience requirements are declining, with only 17.6% of job listings requiring a bachelor’s degree (down from 20% pre-pandemic).
• 24% of TA professionals cite finding the right skills as a major challenge, but nearly a third plan to invest in upskilling.
• Workers prioritize skill growth: 44% wouldn’t take a job without opportunities to future-proof their skills, and 41% would quit without learning and development options.

3) Work-Life Balance as a Top Priority

• 76% of employers have adopted hybrid work models.
• Flexible job offerings are increasing, with 65% now offering flexible hours and 60% allowing location flexibility.
• Work-life balance (83%) is now equally important as job security (83%) and surpasses pay (82%) in motivating talent.
• Companies are leveraging flexible workforce solutions, with 76% using freelancers, contractors, or consultants to manage costs and adapt to evolving workforce needs.

Read more about navigating the new talent landscape from The Staffing Hub  →



Legal Talent in Transition

Addressing Ohio’s declining lawyer numbers amid rising demand. 

Between now and 2033, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of lawyers will grow by 5 percent, consistent with the predicted average for occupations overall. And while a recent ABA study shows a national increase in lawyer numbers by 3.2% over the last decade, Ohio is among 24 states with a declining number of lawyers. Indeed, attorney ranks in Ohio have decreased 4.6% since 2014 and down 3.4% since 2023.

Nationally, an average of 35,600 job openings for lawyers are projected over the course of the next 10 years. Many of these positions will become available because incumbents are changing professions or leaving the workforce altogether. This increasing demand amidst the projected decrease in lawyers statewide will likely present unique challenges for employers in Ohio looking to fill vacant attorney positions in 2025 and beyond.

While the demand for legal talent is expected to grow, legal employers of all types are being called upon to reduce legal expenses. Many organizations are already answering this call by utilizing AI and by outsourcing work to overseas legal providers. As firms explore other possible ways to meet demand while reducing costs, project and contract staffing is another available lever. 

Interested in learning more about these trends? 

Email Jill at jill@cbalaw.org and she’ll share what she's seeing and hearing in the legal community.