Remember when only 17% of all job candidates said they applied with a mobile device? That was so 2019.
Because over the past three years on average according to our CandE Benchmark Research, 72% more candidates are applying with mobile devices across job types (up to over 36% compared to 17% in 2019). Over 50% of those candidates are hourly, but only about 20% are professional to management candidates. Most of the latter use their computers to apply due to required resumes and other documentation that needs to be uploaded, which is harder to do on a phone. Plus, across job types, only a very small percentage of our data start on mobile and complete on their computers.
Numbers are much higher from other sources like AppCast, stating that over 60% of job applications come from mobile devices, and of course even higher from hourly and gig work candidates.
The point being that more job candidates are using their mobile devices, their phones, to search for and apply for jobs. Because it’s supposedly easier than ever to apply for jobs. But it’s not because of artificial intelligence. At least, not yet. I wrote about that in my article AI Misconceptions and Recruiting Reality Checks. Less than 5% of candidates have told us this year that they’re using AI application platforms to apply.
However, 86% more candidates use an AI platform to apply for jobs via mobile versus their computers. Which again makes sense for hourly and gig work candidates.
Time is always a factor when applying, and today 38% more candidates said it took less than 15 minutes to complete than it did in 2019 (43% versus 63%).
Also, according to our CandE Benchmark Research:
- 29% more candidates took behavioral and/or personality tests/assessments via mobile versus computer.
- 57% more candidates took games and/or puzzles tests/assessments via mobile versus mobile.
Obviously there are more tests and assessments that are easily taken on mobile devices. There are differing data points about what percentage truly offer mobile apply – most of our CandE Benchmark employers have said they do in the past, but other recruiting resources say it’s much lower.
The reality in our research is that applying via mobile has been a more positive experience for job candidates:
- 18% more candidates rated higher application/assessment fairness overall when applying via mobile
- 12% more candidates rated higher application NPS overall when applying via mobile
While the difference may not seem statistically significant, because our research includes tens of thousands of responses at the application stage, it most definitely is. Today, with all the job boards and ATS’s that offer functional mobile apply, we would assume that a much higher percentage of employers would offer it and a much higher percentage of hourly job seekers would use it, but that’s still not the case, even with the increases from our research notated above. Mobile apply should be higher.
