iHire's 2026 State of Online Recruiting Report Reveals Growing Trust Gap Between Employers and Job Seekers

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 22, 2026

iHire's eighth annual State of Online Recruiting Report, based on surveys of 1,054 job seekers and 318 employers across 57 U.S. industries, finds trust and authenticity have become central pain points on both sides of the hiring equation — nearly 1 in 5 employers encountered fraudulent applicants, while 41.2% of job seekers came across fake or scam jobs. AI adoption in recruiting has plateaued at 24.2% of employers, down slightly from 25.9% in 2025, and 44.3% of job seekers view AI use negatively. Other notable findings include a sharp rise in skills-based hiring (39.3% of employers, up from 10.6% in 2025), persistent ghosting challenges on both sides, and 60.7% of candidates refusing to apply to jobs lacking salary information.