On May 29th, during the second day of Bullhorn Engage Boston, staffing professionals gathered to hear from a powerhouse panel of industry experts exploring the long-term outlook of the staffing industry in a session titled “The future of staffing: Where will demand rise and fall?”. The session featured insights from Gretchen Keefner, Senior VP of Global Enterprise Business at Bullhorn; Lia Taniguchi, Senior Research Manager at Bullhorn; Sunny Ackerman, Global Managing Partner of On Demand Talent at Heidrick & Struggles; and Tammy Browning, Group President of Enterprise Talent Management at Kelly Services Inc.
Drawing from original industry research and the panelists’ extensive frontline experience, the conversation centered on the complex- and often unpredictable- evolution of the staffing landscape. With demand for contingent labor remaining low and skills-based hiring on the rise, panelists explored how the talent pool is shifting, and what that means for firms looking to stay competitive.
AI Adoption
The session also highlighted how AI is being actively tested across the industry to unlock new business lines and reallocate internal resources. While results vary, firms that are thoughtfully adopting AI tools are beginning to see meaningful gains. Additionally, many staffing firms are diversifying their offerings and moving into higher-margin services, as project management and consulting are two areas where respondents are reporting expansion with AI experimentation.
Market Outlook
The panel also highlighted key areas of growth potential and emerging challenges across regions and sectors within the industry.
Bright spots are emerging in several key geographic markets, including Latin America, Japan, China, and Southern Europe- areas that are experiencing growth and investment in talent solutions. On the industry side, momentum is building around skilled labor, consulting services, AI-related projects, and upskilling/reskilling initiatives to name a few. These areas reflect a growing demand for specialized talent and strategic workforce solutions, especially as businesses prioritize agility and innovation.
Conversely, weaker spots were noted in Northern Europe and the Nordic countries, where market softness continues to impact staffing demand. In terms of industries, automotive, technology, finance, and unskilled trades are facing headwinds- whether due to economic pressures, automation, or shifting workforce needs. These sectors are navigating slower growth and more cautious hiring patterns, requiring firms to be both nimble and strategic in how they support clients and candidates.
This breakdown reinforced the importance of staying informed, adaptable, and focused on high-value areas as firms plan for the future.
Takeaways
As the conversation unfolded, a few powerful themes, statements, and ideas emerged that will continue to shape how we think about the future of staffing. Here are three key takeaways that were particularly notable, and will continue to influence how we move forward as an industry:
The Strength of Being a Relationship-Driven Business
One phrase that continued to surface throughout the session was the importance of human interaction- and how it remains at the heart of the staffing industry. Amid technological advancements and the rise of automation, the panel reminded us of something simple yet essential: the staffing business is built on relationships.
This resonates especially in moments of genuine connection- when recruiters show a real desire to help people find fulfilling work. It’s something that no algorithm or AI tool can truly replace. For candidates, the job search is personal, and having someone they trust to guide them through the process can make all the difference. It builds confidence, strengthens loyalty, and opens the door for future placements and referrals.
This kind of human impact was felt not just in discussion, but in action at Bullhorn Engage- where face-to-face conversations and relationship-building underscored just how powerful those connections can be.
AI: Not the Future- The Now
AI was, unsurprisingly, a hot topic during the session- and across the entirety of Engage. One quote during the session from Tammy Browning stood out: “AI is not the future, AI is the now” emphasizing the need for a mindset shift- going from simply just talking about the possibilities of AI, to strategically adapting and leveraging it.
There are still questions and some hesitancy about how AI will impact jobs across the staffing industry, but the general notion after Engage felt more optimistic and accepting. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, many are beginning to see it as a tool- a means of enhancing efficiency and enabling recruiters to focus more on what they do best: building relationships and making thoughtful, strategic placements.
Outside of the session, the talk and buzz around AI continued, as the exciting announcement of Bullhorn Amplify was delivered during the opening keynote from Bullhorn founder and CEO, Art Papas. Amplify is Bullhorn’s newest addition to the platform, and is a solution designed to help recruiters make more placements, and firms grow without growing internal teams. We’ll explore this tool in more detail in a future post, but it’s just one example of how technology and human expertise can work together to create better outcomes.
Doubling Down on What You Do Best
Another central theme that emerged from the session was the importance of focus- knowing exactly what your firm does best and leaning into it with intention. In a market that’s constantly shifting, staying grounded in your core strengths and delivering consistent, high-quality results is more valuable than ever.
Because at the end of the day, many firms in the staffing space are offering similar services. What differentiates the top performers is their ability to truly understand what sets them apart- whether that’s a niche focus, a unique delivery model, or an exceptional client experience- and then double down on that. The most successful firms aren’t trying to be everything to everyone; they’re focused, confident in their value, and committed to doing what they do best- and doing it exceptionally well for their customers.
Future Implications
This session offered a thoughtful mix of realism and inspiration. While there are certainly challenges ahead, the shared message was clear: with strong relationships, a smart embrace of technology, and a commitment to doing what we do best, we will keep moving forward.
