GRID 2021: Key Findings

We surveyed 2,000+ global staffing professionals to learn their priorities, challenges, and expectations for the year as well as their thoughts on key trends like digital transformation, remote work, and the impact of COVID-19.

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12+ Countries Surveyed

2,000+ Survey Respondents

Agencies of All Sizes, Types, Sectors

We’ve curated the top findings and trends for 2021 into a handy slide deck.

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Top Priorities Top Challenges Revenue Outlook The Impact of COVID-19 Recruitment Technology

Top Priorities

2021 is still all about the relationships: candidates and clients dominate
the priorities for 2021.

While the industry underwent a lot of change in 2020, the top three priorities for staffing and recruitment businesses are the same: it’s all about candidates and clients.

Top Challenges

For the first time in years, the talent shortage isn’t the top challenge. But it hasn’t gone away, either.

For the first time in a decade, the talent shortage was not the number-one challenge for staffing and recruitment firms. That said, the talent shortage still remains a key obstacle. Despite historic unemployment, firms report challenges placing qualified talent. Read on for a deep dive of the many challenges firms anticipate for the year ahead.

Revenue Outlook

The Impact of COVID-19

Recruitment Technology

Staffing pros took a huge leap forward in adopting technology to better their business in 2020.

Historically, the recruitment industry hasn’t always been known for embracing technology, but that no longer appears to be the case. How do respondents feel about digital transformation—the integration of innovative technology into all areas of the business for the purposes of improving operations and delivering more value to clients and candidates? The results are clear: the digital transformation of the industry is both a positive development and an essential one.

GRID 2021: Key Findings

We’ve curated the top findings and trends for 2021 into a handy slide deck.

2021 is still all about the relationships: candidates and clients dominate
the priorities for 2021.

For the first time in years, the talent shortage isn’t the top challenge. But it hasn’t gone away, either.

Firms are generally optimistic for 2021, with the majority expecting an increase in revenue over 2020.

COVID-19’s impacts on the industry were felt in many ways, but respondents believe its lasting legacy will be its impact on remote work.

Staffing pros took a huge leap forward in adopting technology to better their business in 2020.

We’ve curated the top findings and trends for 2021 into a handy slide deck.

GRID 2021: Key Findings

Respondents are 72% more likely to have a digital transformation strategy now than they were a year ago.

We’ve curated the top findings and trends for 2021 into a handy slide deck.

71% of recruitment professionals expect revenue to increase in 2021

55% say there is still a talent shortage

2021 is still all about the relationships: candidates and clients dominate the priorities for 2021.

2021 is still all about the relationships: candidates and clients dominate
the priorities for 2021.