Manufacturing Hiring Down Despite Uptick in Job Openings: iCIMS Data

Candidate interest appears to be cooling as employers stall hiring amid ongoing market uncertainty, according to the iCIMS Insights November Workforce Report.

“More openings, slower hiring rate. That mismatch won’t last,” says Trent Cotton, head of talent acquisition insights, iCIMS. “Frustrated candidates drop off fast, so the firms that cut red tape and move top talent through quickly will own the market.”

Key takeaways:

·        iCIMS data showed a dip in candidate interest while employers continue to open roles, but are not following through on the hires. Overall applications dropped 7% between September and October but were still up 9% year-over-year.

·        Following a hiring surge that peaked in April and again in July, hiring has gradually declined, with overall hires dropping 5% since October 2024. Despite lackluster applications and hires, openings continue to climb up 4% year-over-year, their highest level in 12 months.

• Manufacturing job openings are up 14% year-over-year and have been trending upward since June, but that is not translating into actual hires. Manufacturing hiring is down 7% year-over-year, signaling that manufacturers are easing up after a mid-year rally. Applications are also up 12% since last October but have fallen for two consecutive months.
• Manufacturing applicants per opening (APO) rose from 41 to 47 year-over-year, reflecting growing candidate interest in the sector. The applicant activity appears to be tracking employer demand, as APO peaked midyear alongside hiring growth and has eased in recent months as hiring momentum slowed.
• Time-to-fill in manufacturing increased from 40 to 42 year-over-year, suggesting employers are making slower hiring decisions in a cautious market. But moving too slowly could mean losing critical hires.
• According to the report, manufacturing may have benefited from tech-sector layoffs, capturing displaced talent with transferable skills. APO for computer and math roles in manufacturing grew 27% year-over-year (65-83), while architecture and engineering roles rose 24% (51-64).

“The manufacturing sector is feeling a sharper talent squeeze than the broader market,” said Cotton. “Applications per opening are rising, yet time to fill has barely moved as openings climb and hiring slows year over year. The data points to process friction, not pipeline scarcity. For manufacturing recruiters, the edge will go to those who treat hiring like production: measure throughput, eliminate bottlenecks and keep talent moving.”