90% of hiring managers say referrals speed up hiring process
OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES — A new workforce survey underscores how employee referrals have become one of the most influential forces in hiring today, with 90% of United States hiring managers saying they significantly speed up recruitment.
According to a report from Express Employment Professionals, the findings highlight a growing divide in the future of work: while employers increasingly rely on trusted networks to cut through talent shortages, most job seekers are still underutilizing referrals as a career strategy.
Employee referrals reshape hiring efficiency in tight labor market
The Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey found that referrals are not just helpful but often decisive in hiring decisions.
A striking 91% of hiring managers said a strong internal reference can open doors that would otherwise remain closed, signaling how much weight personal recommendations now carry in a competitive labor market.
Referrals also reshape how candidates are evaluated. According to the survey, “89% trust candidates’ stated skills more when someone recommends them,” while “80% prioritize interviewing referred candidates over equally qualified non-referred applicants,” and “76% believe referred candidates perform better on the job.”
Despite this, many job seekers are not leveraging the advantage. Only 40% believe a referral helps them stand out, revealing what the report describes as a disconnect between employer behavior and candidate perception.
In an era where applicant tracking systems and AI screening tools dominate early hiring stages, referrals are emerging as a human shortcut through increasingly automated processes.
Trust, relationships, and the future of work networks
The report emphasizes that referrals are rooted in long-term professional relationships rather than transactional networking.
Hiring managers said “93% have been contacted by former colleagues after long periods of no communication,” yet “68% are less likely to provide a reference if the only time someone reaches out is when they need one.”
Additionally, 66% consider whether relationships were maintained over time before offering support.
Even so, referrals are not seen as flawless. “91% say a reference doesn’t always mean the candidate is the right fit,” with nearly half strongly agreeing.
Meanwhile, 70% worry that over-reliance on referrals could limit workplace diversity, raising concerns about fairness in network-driven hiring.
“Referrals have always carried weight, but what this data shows is that they carry responsibility too. The strongest recommendations come from relationships built on consistency and genuine connection, not convenience,” said Bob Funk Jr., CEO, President and Chairman of Express Employment International.
As the future of work continues to evolve, the findings suggest hiring may become even more relationship-driven, even as technology transforms recruitment. In a labor market shaped by automation and AI screening, human trust networks remain a powerful—and sometimes decisive—gateway to opportunity.
