A new report from TestGorilla, Unlocking Sourcing Success: The Secret Source, exposes a paradox at the heart of hiring. While 77 per cent 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 per cent 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 per cent actively source more than half their hires.
- Top challenges: 58 per cent struggle to verify skills on resumes, 47 per cent find it difficult to identify candidates aligned with the company culture, and 43 per cent cite a lack of skilled candidates in the market.
- Tech gaps: Nearly half (46 per cent) say their current sourcing tools are ineffective; integration failures and outdated candidate data are the biggest frustrations.
- Future-readiness: Only 37 per cent of sourcing teams feel prepared for the rise of AI, automation, and advanced analytics in recruitment.
In retail, there is the sharpest sourcing paradox. 78 per cent say active sourcing is essential, yet only 7 per cent 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 per cent vs. 54 per cent industry-wide).
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to deliver quality hires in a market where AI is rapidly reshaping talent acquisition, skills are harder to verify, and outdated tools can’t keep up.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.”
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