You post the job and wait. Weeks pass, the role is still empty, and your team is covering the gap.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Slow hiring is common right now. In most cases, the problem is not a lack of good people. It is the recruitment process.
Adzuna’s UK Job Market Report shows the average time to fill a role was about 35 days in early 2026. The Totaljobs Hiring Trends Index says average time to hire has climbed to 12 weeks, up from 10 weeks in autumn 2025. The two reports measure different things, but both show the same trend. Hiring is getting slower. adzunatotaljobs
Skills mismatch is the biggest hiring challenge for employers, cited by 32%, according to the same Totaljobs research. Salary expectations come second. If your job advert asks for too much, or the pay does not fit the role, good candidates will not apply. totaljobs
Hiring managers are busy. CVs wait in an inbox. Interviews take days to book. Meanwhile, strong candidates accept other offers. Every day of delay gives your competitors a better chance.
When nobody owns each step, vacancies stall. Candidates also notice. Totaljobs says that right now, process is employer brand. How you hire shapes how people see your business. totaljobs
Start with a clear job brief. Agree the must-have skills, the salary range and the working pattern before you advertise.
Next, set a time limit for each stage. For example, review applications within two working days and book interviews within one. Reply to every candidate, even when the answer is no.
Finally, look at who does the admin. CV screening, phone screening and interview booking take hours. If your team does this on top of their main jobs, delays are almost certain.
You do not need to hand over your whole hiring process. Many businesses outsource only the tasks that slow them down. That could mean screening CVs, checking candidates, or booking interviews. Your team then spends time on what matters most: meeting the best people and making the final decision.
This is the idea behind ACS Smart Sourcing. It gives you extra recruitment support when you need it, without the cost of a bigger HR team.
If your roles are open longer than they should be, let’s find out where the delays are. Talk to the ACS team about Smart Sourcing today.