77% of talent leaders say active sourcing is vital – yet most hires are passive, report finds

A new report from TestGorilla, Unlocking Sourcing Success: The Secret Source, exposes
a paradox at the heart of hiring. While 77% of HR and recruiting professionals say active sourcing is “essential”
or “very important” to their talent acquisition (TA) strategy, the majority of companies actively source fewer
than half their hires.
The study, based on a survey of 1,000 US hiring and recruiting leaders over the last 12 months, highlights the
mounting pressures on talent teams, the shortcomings of current sourcing technology, and the looming
readiness gap: only 37% say they feel well prepared for AI, automation, and advanced analytics shaping the
future of sourcing.

Key findings:

• The sourcing paradox: Although three-quarters say active sourcing is very important or essential to
  their TA strategy, only 27% actively source more than half their hires.
•  Top challenges: 58% struggle to verify skills on resumes, 47% find it di􀆯icult to identify candidates
  aligned with the company culture, and 43% cite a lack of skilled candidates in the market.
• Tech gaps: Nearly half (46%) say their current sourcing tools are ine􀆯ective; integration failures and
  outdated candidate data are the biggest frustrations.
• Future-readiness: Only 37% of sourcing teams feel prepared for the rise of AI, automation, and
  advanced analytics in recruitment.

Sector insights

• Retail: The sharpest sourcing paradox. 78% say active sourcing is essential, yet only 7% actively
  source more than half their hires – the widest value-action gap of any sector. Retail teams also report
  the lowest satisfaction with sourcing tools (31% vs. 54% industry-wide).
• Financial Services: Less likely than average to struggle with finding qualified candidates (44% vs.
  54%), but face the most severe resume credibility gap: 66% say verifying candidate skills is their
  biggest hurdle – the highest of any sector apart from education.
• IT: Only 17% of IT organizations actively source more than half their hires, despite 83% saying active
  sourcing is essential. Recruiters cite outdated candidate data (44%) and integration gaps between
  tools (48%) as their biggest frustrations – pain points that persist even in a tech-first sector. Still, 67%
  plan to invest in new sourcing technology in the next 12 months. Looking ahead, IT professionals
  expect disruption less from skills shortages (27%) and more from AI and automation (54%) and
  advanced data & analytics (49%) – though many admit they are not fully prepared for these shifts.
• Marketing & Advertising: Stand out for cultural fit challenges – 56% cite it as their top sourcing issue,
  more than any other industry. Marketing teams are also the most likely to invest in new sourcing
  technology (75% vs. 61% industry average), despite being the sector most likely to anticipate
  disruption from economic volatility and budget constraints (40% vs. 28%).

Wouter Durville, CEO and Co-Founder at TestGorilla says:
“Sourcing teams are under more pressure than ever. They’re expected to deliver quality hires in a market
where AI is rapidly reshaping talent acquisition, skills are harder to verify, and outdated tools can’t keep up.
Our research shows that while nearly eight in ten leaders say active sourcing is vital, most still rely on passive
hires because of these barriers. Better sourcing comes down to three things: smarter signals on skills and
culture, tools that integrate seamlessly, and clear ROI measurement so you can double down on what works
and fix what doesn’t.”
The complete report is available here.

View the latest copy of your Think Global People magazine here: