The staffing industry is undergoing a dramatic shift, and firms that have embraced AI are reaping the benefits. According to Bullhorn’s GRID 2025 Industry Trends Report, recruitment companies using AI were twice as likely to see revenue growth in 2024 compared to those relying on traditional methods. With hiring demands rising and competition intensifying, automation is proving to be the key to faster placements, stronger candidate engagement, and bigger profits.
Time-consuming tasks like sifting through résumés and manually screening candidates are becoming a thing of the past. AI-powered search and match tools are cutting hiring times significantly, saving recruiters up to 17 hours per week. Of that, 4.5 hours alone is saved just on candidate searches, while automation is also shaving off hours spent on administrative work.
For job seekers, this means a faster and smoother hiring process. With 80% of candidates expecting to be placed within 20 days, AI-driven automation is making that expectation a reality. Firms that have fully integrated AI into their hiring workflows are 90% more likely to meet that 20-day placement target.
AI-powered staffing firms are doubling their revenue
Firms that focused on full-cycle automation were twice as likely to see revenue growth in 2024, and the reason is simple—AI helps them fill roles faster and more accurately. The top-performing firms leveraged AI for candidate engagement, job matching, and redeployment of top talent, all of which contributed to their financial success.
Recruitment agencies using AI to improve job matches were 96% more likely to see revenue gains, showing that firms investing in technology aren’t just keeping up, they’re pulling ahead.
Despite AI’s clear advantages, some staffing firms still struggle to unlock its full potential. The report found that 36% of firms cite poor data quality as a major roadblock to maximising AI’s impact. Without clean, well-structured data, even the best AI tools can’t function properly.
Improving data hygiene and system integration will be crucial for firms that want to stay competitive. AI adoption is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s the key to survival in an increasingly tech-driven industry.