Employ Inc. has launched its latest Job Seeker Nation survey report for 2026, which shows an increasing gap of mistrust among employers and candidates that will have a huge impact on the job market. Titled “Why More Candidates Are Pressing Pause,” the survey reports that many candidates have started staying away from the job market because of their apprehension over scamming job ads, automation of recruitment process by AI technologies, and lack of communication from recruiters.
As per the survey, 53% of respondents said they came across scammy job postings, and 34% claimed they were rejected through artificial intelligence processes used in recruiting companies. It seems that the suspicion against the hiring process has resulted in the unwillingness of job candidates to continue searching for a new job. Active job searching fell by 7% to 35% compared to last year. At the same time, the willingness of respondents to move to another company dropped.
“The ‘Great Stay’ is now the ‘Great Pause,’” said Stephanie Manzelli, Chief People Officer at Employ Inc. “People aren’t just staying at their jobs; they’re stepping back from the job market altogether. Our data reveals a breakdown in trust that only raises the bar for hiring teams. In this challenging environment, employers must proactively meet candidates where they are and make it easier for their next top employees to say ‘yes’ to joining the team.”
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In a survey of more than 1,500 American adults, the report also revealed generational differences in views about AI. Workers belonging to an older generation were more worried about employers’ use of AI and automation in recruitment, while young job seekers were more inclined to believe that automation had harmed their application process.
Employ‘s result confirmed that candidates tend to prefer skill-based assessments of their abilities to more conventional criteria like experience or formal qualifications.
Almost 79% of policy respondents felt skill-based tests were a more accurate assessment of an individual’s job skills. The report highlights just how changing technology, and the progression of a desire for more transparency and equity in the process, will affect expectations from both parties.
