New Data from East Midlands Recruiter Reveals Workers Expect Job Application Response within 7 Days
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 25 June 2026
New data from leading HR specialist Gi Group, which serves candidates and businesses across the East Midlands, has revealed temporary workers in the Midlands expect a response within a week when it comes to hearing back from their job applications.
- 83% of candidates in the Midlands expect contact within seven days (compared to 86% in the North and 78% in the South of England)
Latest estimates from the ONS show that 16.5% of 16-24-year-olds in the East Midlands were not in education, employment or training (NEETs) during October – December 2025. Gi Group has surveyed more than 1,000 temporary job seekers across the UK on a range of questions about the job market and how they find and secure work. As part of its new ‘always on’ State of the Nation survey, it has today found that candidates ranging from 18 – 64 years of age still place great emphasis on ‘The One-Week Rule’.
Managing Director for Gi Group UK & Ireland, Andy Carpenter, said listening to the findings of this survey would help employers in the East Midlands navigate some of the choppiest recruitment waters in living history. He said:
“Our data shows there are abundant and strongly held pre-set expectations about what a job application response time from a professional company looks like amongst jobseekers today.
“The data is surprising as it shows that waiting 10 days to reply to an applicant doesn’t only delay the process, it also puts them off applying for roles with your business in the future. Contrary to assumptions, nationally only 9% of 18–24-year-olds expect an immediate response, rising to over 14% for 45-54’s. Older generations are proving more impatient than their younger counterparts when it comes to job hunting.”
According to early estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) job vacancies fell to 707,000 for March to May 2026, compared to December 2025 to February 2026 – the lowest level since February to April 2021.
With employees remaining in work for longer, coupled with a dip in vacancies, more workers are competing for roles which is resulting in a hike in youth unemployment.
Andy added:
"It is a tug-of-war challenge for recruiters who are managing expectations across multigenerational parameters.
“As a nation, we’re at a recruitment crossroads. While the labour market is being redefined by technological advancements and a widening skills gap, candidates still remain focused on timely, human responses. Despite generational differences, a key element remains: speed impacts candidate quality. The best candidates, regardless of their age, are often off the market within days, rather than weeks. Delayed responses can damage employer brand, sometimes more than an instant rejection. In the digital world we’re navigating, reputation and responsiveness mean everything. Breaching professional courtesy can lead to catastrophic reputational outcomes, which is why clear, human-led communication and understanding throughout the hiring process is fundamental.”
When asked, 83% of candidates in the Midlands said they expected contact within seven days following a job application.
Andy said:
“Speed is now a competitive advantage in hiring but professionalism remains a non-negotiable element in what we do as experienced, skilled recruitment experts. In a fast-paced, tech driven society, ensuring clear, honest and realistic communication can not only build trust, but it can build loyalty. Recruitment isn’t really about age; it’s about trust and building professional relationships. When candidates are searching for a job, particularly in today’s landscape, feeling heard and respected can pay dividends for businesses down the line.”
Gi Group UK is headquartered in Chesterfield in the Midlands. Parented by Gi Group Holding, Gi Group UK employs close to 500 people in 2026 from 17 hub locations. Working across manufacturing, logistics, food and drink and many other sectors, Gi Group UK is uniquely committed to the creation of social and economic value for both employers and candidates alike. For more information about Gi Group in the UK, visit: uk.gigroup.com.
