As hiring continues to scale, internal efficiency is reaching record highsbut candidate sentiment is struggling to keep pace. This Data Deep Dive provides the raw benchmark data you need to see exactly where your team stands in the current global landscape.

Designed as a quick-reference guide for talent leaders, this report moves beyond theory to give you the precise numbers behind Candidate NPS (cNPS), Hiring Manager Satisfaction and response rates across every stage of the funnel.

What’s Inside?

1. The 5 Defining Trends of 2026: A strategic overview of the patterns shaping hiring success, from the "selective barrier" at the application stage to the widening gap between internal and external satisfaction.
2. Aggregated cNPS Benchmarks: Compare your sentiment scores for hired, withdrawn, and rejected candidates against global averages.
3. Hiring Manager Satisfaction Breakdown: Detailed ratings across four key performance levers: Role Kick-Off, Recruiter Expertise, Candidate Quality, and Process Excellence.
4. Granular Segmentations: High-fidelity data broken down by:
   
   1. Company Size: From emerging teams to enterprises with 5,000+ FTEs.
   2. Industry: Including Tech & SaaS, Financial Services, Healthcare, and more.
   3. Department: Targeted benchmarks for Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and Operations.
   4. Applicant Source: Performance data for referrals, job boards, and direct sourcing.
5. Sentiment & Topic Analysis: Discover what candidates are actually saying about your brand and identify the #1 driver of dissatisfaction today: Expectation Setting.