The UK’s Current Recruitment Fill Rate (and How To Improve It!)

I recently attended a recruitment leadership event, where a shocking stat was shared – the average fill rate for agency recruitment services in the UK is just 30%. That’s right, 7 out of 10 jobs are going unfilled! 

Naturally, this stat sparked a lot of questions for me: Why is this number so shockingly low? What’s driving this gap between demand for talent and the ability to find it? And perhaps most importantly, what can we do to improve these numbers? 

Let’s take a closer look and explore how we can improve the overall recruitment process and fill this gap.

Shifting from Volume to Value

While averages can be misleading (volume-heavy markets pull it down, and retained executive searches push it up), I believe the real issue lies in how recruiters and clients work together. 

There are two simple changes that could dramatically improve that 30% fill rate.

For Recruiters: Shifting from Volume to Value 

• Limit the number of clients in your portfolio. Focus on quality, not quantity. Perfect your service and become an extension of your client’s brand. 

• Get proactive. Know your client’s goals, culture, and how to represent them in the market. Don’t wait for the brief to land – find the talent before it’s even requested. 

• Don’t chase volume. Stretching yourself too thin means offering subpar service. Focus on fewer clients, and do an excellent job for them. Remember the 80/20 rule – most of your revenue will come from a small percentage of your clients. Double down on them and watch the results follow.

For Clients: Choosing Quality Over Quantity in Supplier Relationships 

• Stop relying on a long list of agencies. Having a PSL of 3-5 agencies doesn’t give you better market coverage; it just dilutes the service you receive. 

• Invest in the right partners. Choose agencies carefully, and help them understand your business inside and out. The more they know about you, the better they’ll represent you in the market. 

A Path to Improvement

It’s fiercely competitive out there in the talent market, for both talent and businesses. We’re not going to beat the competition as clients by having a huge list of suppliers working for free. As recruiters, we can’t win by chasing every opportunity or throwing mud at the wall until it sticks. 
 
At Corecom Consulting, we made a conscious decision in recent years to do more with less. We’ve turned down opportunities, even in challenging markets, because we’re committed to delivering world-class service. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s paying off, and I’m truly proud to say we’re now performing well above 30%! 

If you would like to learn more about our recruitment consultant services and how we help businesses scale their teams with top senior talent, get in touch with our team today!