Hiring challenges persist for employers across the UK, but Indeed has a smarter solution.
With the UK economy struggling and business sentiment uncertain, finding the right people can feel like wading through thick mud. Businesses are feeling the squeeze: a recent survey shows that 65 percent have a role that’s been hard to fill for at least two months, and in some cases, as long as six months.
Another big hurdle: Indeed reports that about one in three applications are a poor match for the role. Sifting through numerous unsuitable candidates wastes valuable time and resources, and more than two‑thirds of surveyed businesses say it takes too long to identify quality applicants. On the candidate side, most jobseekers find the process slow—nearly two‑thirds have abandoned applications because the process dragged on too long.
There’s urgency to act. To address this, Indeed has rolled out Premium Sponsored Jobs, a new suite of tools designed to help employers quickly locate and engage suitable candidates. These features aim to speed up sourcing and screening. For instance, adding an “Urgently Hiring” badge can boost applications by about 84 percent compared with postings without the tag, a notable advantage since roughly 60 percent of jobseekers say they’re more likely to apply when a company signals urgent hiring.
Beyond premium perks like priority search placement and custom branding, Premium Sponsored Jobs enables employers to connect with jobseekers whose experience and skills align with the role, and even invite them to apply directly. Employers can also contact shortlisted candidates via SMS for instant outreach, provided the candidates have opted in.
Indeed’s AI capabilities—including generating candidate highlights and AI‑driven messaging—help speed up screening and shorten the time to hire. Companies using Premium Sponsored Jobs can also access a pool of tech talent through the Indeed Tech Network, which connects to more than 50 technology‑focused sites. In the UK, employers hiring through the Tech Network report a 2.7x increase in relevant applications from skilled candidates.
Early results show the premium approach is accelerating hiring. Seventy‑eight percent of UK employers agree that Indeed Premium Sponsored Jobs reaches the right candidates faster with targeted reach, and 74 percent say it lowers cost per hire by filling roles more quickly than other recruitment tools.
“In today’s competitive hiring environment, speed matters,” says Conor McCarthy, Vice President at Indeed. “Waiting on slow processes frustrates both employers and candidates. Our research shows both sides want speed, efficiency, and high‑quality matches. Premium Sponsored Jobs blends technology with human connection to deliver a fast, personalized experience.”
Hiring remains slow, but Indeed is speeding things up for UK employers.
