Recruiters embrace new sourcing channels

Recruiters in South Africa are relying on online CV databases less as hiring activity shows signs of recovery, according to a recent report. The CareerJunction Employment Insights Report for the second quarter of 2026 reveals a 18.1% decline in recruiter searches of their CV database compared to the previous year. This suggests that the method employers use to source talent is evolving as more jobseekers apply directly for vacancies.

Key factors contributing to this shift include a surge in direct applications and the use of AI-powered applicant tracking systems, matching tools, and automation to streamline candidate screening.

Despite this change, the broader online labor market is experiencing a mixed recovery, with overall advertised vacancy volumes increasing by 2.6% year-on-year. Recruitment activity, however, has declined by 1% seasonally adjusted between the first and second quarters of 2026. Recruiters are increasingly relying on a combination of direct applications, internal talent pools, LinkedIn, referrals, recruitment agencies, and targeted outreach to find suitable candidates.

While CV databases like Pnet, CareerJunction, JobVine, and Indeed remain important for scarce and specialized skills, they are becoming just one channel in a wider sourcing ecosystem.

Jobseeker engagement online has significantly increased, with the average number of applications per advertised position rising by 70% year-on-year. However, the increase has slowed down quarter-on-quarter and is 32% higher than it was two years ago. This trend is also reflected on other recruitment platforms. Pnet, for example, has observed a decline in CV database searches but has also seen improvements in vacancy advertising and hiring activity.

Anja Bates, head of data at Pnet, notes that vacancy advertising increased by 9% month-on-month and 10% year-on-year, while candidate database searches increased by 10% month-on-month but are still down 25% year-on-year. Hiring activity grew by 10% month-on-month in June and is nearly flat year-on-year at -1%.

The report suggests that recruiters are leveraging a growing pool of applicants to reduce the need for proactive candidate sourcing. Companies like Momentum Group have adopted a diversified recruitment strategy, incorporating direct applications, LinkedIn, internal talent pools, referrals, recruitment agencies, and careers platforms.

They have also invested in LinkedIn to enhance employer branding, engage passive candidates, and target scarce skills. However, despite the decline in traditional database searches, both Pnet and Momentum Group expect these platforms to remain important for finding specialized talent. The ultimate goal of technology, according to Bates, is to augment recruiters rather than replace the human element in the hiring process.