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Quiet hiring prioritises internal talent over external hiring
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Contractors offer flexibility for short-term needs
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Upskilling is crucial for long-term success
A woman who has just been promoted to team lead shakes the hand of her manager, while other team members aplaude the decision in the background

Companies all around the globe are increasingly turning to “quiet hiring” as a strategic response to workforce challenges. This approach came into play in 2023 as an answer to the economic slowdown, promising to help businesses maintain their productivity with limited resources. Quiet hiring also addresses the issue of “quiet quitting“—a trend where employees disengage from their roles.

After reading this article, you’ll be able to understand this workplace trend, the benefits of quiet hiring and whether quiet hiring might work or not for your organisation.

What is Quiet Hiring?

The first thing you need to know about quiet hiring is that it leverages your organisation’s existing resources. Instead of hiring permanent employees externally, employers hire short-term contractors to fill gaps in their workforce, avoiding lengthy, costly recruitment processes.

How do you Fill your Vacancies if You’re Quiet Hiring?

  • Employers redeploy their most skilled employees into the most critical roles or projects and offer them additional responsibilities.
  • Employers invest in upskilling or reskilling their existing workforce to fill skills gaps.
  • Employers bring in experienced contractors for specific tasks or time-bound projects.
A woman who has just been promoted to team lead shakes the hand of her manager, while other team members aplaude the decision in the background
A Quiet Hiring strategy helps organisations remain agile, especially in uncertain economic conditions or when navigating hiring freezes.

Is Quiet Hiring the Employer’s Response to Quiet Quitting?

Many people in our industry seem to think so! While no specific company has publicly labelled their recruitment practices as “quiet hiring,” the approach has become more prevalent across various industries since 2023. For instance, tech giant Google has been noted for its internal hiring committees, where existing employees actively select candidates for new roles, effectively promoting from within without formal external recruitment processes.

Additionally, many organisations have implemented well-established referral programs, encouraging employees to refer potential candidates for job openings, reducing the need for extensive external recruitment efforts. In this regard, start-up founder Aditya Malik points out that quiet hiring and retention strategies must include professional development opportunities and work-life balance initiatives to succeed.

Why Quiet Hiring Is Still Relevant in 2025

As businesses face economic uncertainty, quiet hiring offers a way to adapt without overextending budgets or increasing permanent headcount. It allows companies to manage their resources while maintaining productivity and meeting changing demands strategically.

There are four main reasons why companies might choose a Quiet Hiring approach in 2025:

→ For cost-efficiency reasons: Many companies face budget constraints, making permanent hires less feasible. Quiet hiring allows businesses to address their needs without long-term financial commitments.

→ To reduce recruitment risks: Hiring permanent employees involves a significant investment of time and resources, along with risks such as cultural misalignment or high talent turnover. Quiet hiring minimises these risks by enabling companies to test out talent or rely on contractors with proven expertise.

→ For increased flexibility and agility: The business environment in 2025 is expected to be dynamic, with shifting priorities and economic fluctuations, not just in the UK but also in Europe and the USA. Quiet hiring empowers organisations to adapt quickly by reallocating resources or hiring contractors ready to contribute immediately.

→ To focus on upskilling their workforce: Many organisations prioritise internal mobility and offer comprehensive training opportunities to make the most of their existing workforce and increase talent retention, further driving the quiet hiring trend.

How Adria Solutions Can Help

While relocating staff, training your workforce and investing in upskilling programs to answer long-term talent needs, you need someone to take care of your most urgent talent needs. Your Talent and Human Resources team might be busy enough as they are. That’s where Adria Solutions can come to the help.

A group of people hold the pieces of a puzzle
Companies cannot rely exclusively on their internal talent to remain competitive and productive

In the short term, we can help you source experienced contractors. We have an existing talent network of pre-vetted IT contractors, so we can find you well-trained, highly skilled professionals who can hit the ground running.

As part of our services for employers, we provide expert advice on market trends to help you stay ahead in your recruitment strategy. We get to know you and understand your needs and strengths, so when you’re ready to grow your business with permanent talent, we can support your expansion, saving you time and money.

Planning Your Recruitment Strategy for 2025

If you think a Quiet Hiring strategy might work for your organisation in 2025, here are a few tips to help you plan and prepare:

  1. Identify your skills gaps to pinpoint areas where additional expertise is needed.
  2. Evaluate whether your projects or roles require permanent hires or if contractors could provide a better solution, considering flexible options.
  3. There’s a lot at stake, so you should consider partnering with experts, such as Adria Solutions, not to lose your precious time looking for contractors with the right skills and who align with your business goals.

Final Considerations About Quiet Hiring

Quiet hiring is more than a cost-saving measure; it’s a strategic approach to workforce planning that enables businesses to remain competitive and resilient, but only when accompanied by an effort to train your existing workforce, an in-depth talent analysis to identify your talent gaps and a long-term recruitment strategy.

As businesses seek flexibility and cost efficiency, it seems likely that Quiet Hiring will become a permanent fixture in workforce planning strategies. If you’re considering this possibility or want to explore other flexible recruitment models, contact our team to discuss how we can support your organisation today.

David Berwick

David Berwick

Director • Lead Software Engineering Recruitment Specialist

David Berwick is an IT Recruitment Specialist with 25 years of experience, including 20 years as the Director of Adria Solutions. He specialises in Software Engineering recruitment and is widely respected in the UK’s tech recruitment industry. Dave has provided expert commentary for specialist publications such as LinkedIn News UK, Tech Target and UK Recruiter.

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