Candidate sentiment rose to the highest level recorded in the past year, increasing for the second month in a row to 3.8. The August index reported a big increase in the volume of applicants per role this month, jumping 20 percent since July and 112 percent since June.

After months of in-person roles overpowering hybrid and remote positions, hybrid roles took over the number one spot. Although they are the most common type of position recruiters are working on, the split between in-person, remote, and hybrid is fairly even.

Our Recruiter Index tracks how many of the roles recruiters are working on are backll vs. new roles. For the second month in a row, only six percent of recruiters said that 100 percent of the roles they were working on were brand new roles.

Compensation remained the number one priority for candidates in the market for a new job, followed by remote work and work/life balance. Management had a slight lead over compensation when it came to reasons candidates were leaving their current job. Remote work witnessed a slight increase this month when it came to reasons candidates were leaving jobs, increasing 20 percent since July.

The August Recruiter Index showed that of the candidates recruiters are talking with 30 percent reported that half to 75 are currently employed. While keeping the job hopper economy in mind, 47 percent of prospective candidates have had two jobs over the past two years.

Half of the recruiters surveyed reported salaries increasing this month, holding steady since July. In terms of specific salary ranges, we saw increases in the ranges $40K-$80K (+9 percentage points) and $100K-$150K (+2 percentage points).