Flexible work arrangements are one of the top reasons employees love their jobs. And conversely, a lack of flexibility is a big reason why 42% of employees quit.These figures indicate a major trend—flex work is no longer a perk, it’s something employees are actively seeking out. And it’s great to see more companies jumping on this trend and adapting. Our 2024 State of Hiring report found that flexible work is the number one strategy businesses are planning to use to attract and retain top talent while staying competitive.

In previous blogs in this series, we explained the key benefits of flexibility at work and the challenges organizations face.‍ Now, we’re sharing a preview of how companies actually empower flexibility at work. 

Recruitment strategies have had to adapt constantly with the twists and turns of 2024. From candidate ghosting and skills shortage to quiet quitting and unchecked AI usage, it’s far from what companies experienced in 2022 and 2023.

Key trends in Willo's 2024 Hiring Trends Report included AI adoption, workplace flexibility, DE&I, and freelance hiring. Did they happen?

Higher education institutions across the US are increasingly concerned about meeting enrollment goals. A recent survey of 239 institutions, for example, found that a large majority (71%) of respondents expressed moderate to extreme concern about achieving their enrollment targets.

Flexibility at work brings productivity, camaraderie, and a host of other benefits. ‍

Providing flexibility to employees could be even more beneficial than previously thought. ‍A couple major studies find that employees are more productive when they have flexibility. Specifically, they try harder, think more creatively, and typically stay with an organization longer.‍But the benefits go beyond that. 

AI is rapidly taking root in recruitment. According to our Hiring Humans report, 79.4% of business leaders see AI as a top priority for talent acquisition.These numbers underscore AI’s growing prominence in recruiting. But if not implemented properly, AI can degrade your hiring process, making it more complicated, biased, and inefficient.