The 2026 Hiring Reality: Why More Applicants Aren’t Leading to More Hires

Applicant volume is up, job seekers are active, and organizations continue hiring, even if it’s at a slower rate. So why does hiring still feel so difficult? Join Erica Wallace, Talent Acquisition Manager at BambooHR, Dr. Kylie Ensrud, Co-Founder and President of Humanized HR and John Baldino, President of Humareso for a discussion on the latest trends shaping the labor market and what you can do to adapt your hiring strategy moving forward. We'll explore why many organizations are attracting more candidates but making fewer hires and what these shifts mean for HR leaders as they adapt their hiring strategies in 2026.

In this session, you'll learn:

• The biggest trends reshaping hiring in 2026
• How leading organizations are adapting their recruiting strategies
• What HR leaders should be watching as the labor market continues to evolve