2023 US state of talent acquisition study executive summary 

Talent Acquisition (TA) may have once been a game of catch and hire — but in overcoming the challenges of the past few years, talent organizations have turned what was a short-term pivot into a business-sustaining force that is enabling the future of work.

Despite the economic stresses of 2023, we remain in an ultra-competitive talent market. To move the business forward, TA organizations are sharpening their skill-scout mindset, seeking out external and internal talent with the right skills to drive value — and leveraging advanced technology and AI to help their teams scale skill-based recruitment.

In this 2023 State of Talent Acquisition Study, our Mercer team surveyed 477 companies to understand exactly where the Talent Acquisition function is — and where it’s headed.