At a time when 45% of Americans say they’re likely to look for a job in the next year (referred to as job seekers), four out of 10 unemployed job seekers report not having a single job interview over the past 12 months, according to the latest ASA Workforce Monitor^® report from ASA and The Harris Poll.

The survey results paint a stark picture of the jobs market at a time when the economy is feeling the lingering effects of historic interest rate hikes:

• 72% of Americans say that applying for jobs feels like sending a résumé into a “black box”
• 60% say the job search process is too impersonal
• 42% of unemployed Americans looking for a job applied to 10 or more job openings in the past year
• 50% of likely job seekers would not accept a job without a remote or hybrid policy in place
• 31% of Americans would not apply for a job opening that required a cover letter

Americans did share a positive view of the staffing industry, with two-thirds of Americans overall and of likely job seekers (67% each) saying that staffing agencies make finding a job easier.

“Far too many job seekers are feeling lost when it comes to effectively navigating the process of finding new employment,” said Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at ASA. There’s clearly a disconnect between the expectations of candidates and their understanding of current labor market conditions and of understanding of what employers are looking for. If you want to get hired in today’s environment, you need to stand out from the competition and be flexible.

“Staffing agency recruiters are employment specialists who, without any charge to candidates, will act as a career coach and talent agent—creating relevant and impactful résumés, securing interviews, and helping job seekers gain access to opportunities that they could not find on their own,” Wahlquist continued. “If job seekers feel like their résumés are going into a black hole, it may be because they’re posting the same generic one-click résumé, over and over. You will likely never get your foot in the door, if you don’t take the time to put your best foot forward.”