COVID-19 has had a significant impact on many facets of business operations, and talent acquisition is no different. As 2020 draws to a close, it's an ideal time to look ahead to some of the talent acquisition trends that we're likely to see in 2021.

Diversity and inclusion
Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on their executive teams are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability — up from 15% in 2014. And for companies where there is greater ethnic and cultural diversity, that figure increases to 36% on profitability.

Acquisition
Demand for top talent remains as high as ever, and nearly half (45%) of businesses expect to increase their tech & sales team headcount in the coming year. We could well see a new race for talent during 2021. The traditional methodology of advertising, multiple agency usage or the reliance of internal teams will forever have a role in the pursuit for talent however now is the opportunity to modernise the go-to and nature of recruiting partnership (shameless plug).

Remote hiring
One of the most recent trends that have emerged in the talent acquisition and recruitment area is remote hiring. It has become a necessity for hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic and is absolutely one that will remain in the future.