How to Stop Candidate Ghosting in 2025 | Recruitment Tips for Australia & NZ Employers
Across Australia and New Zealand, candidate ghosting continues to challenge employers even as labour markets start to soften.
Unemployment currently sits around 4.5% in Australia and 5.3% in New Zealand (as of late 2025), meaning it’s generally easier for businesses to find talent than it was a year ago. However, in certain sectors, employers still report difficulties securing and retaining the right people.
That’s where ghosting comes in. Even in a cooling market, candidates who lose interest mid-process or accept other offers can leave hiring managers in limbo: affecting timelines, productivity, and overall hiring confidence.
In short: they have choices and if your process doesn’t engage them, they’ll vanish faster than you can say boo.
Why Ghosting Happens
From Sydney to Wellington, ghosting often has less to do with manners and more to do with momentum.
When candidates are balancing multiple opportunities, long hiring timelines, unclear communication, or slow feedback can make them lose interest. AI-driven job alerts and proactive recruiters keep them constantly moving, meaning you need to stay in step.
Top triggers we see at Frontline include:
- Slow communication or feedback loops
- Lack of transparency about pay, flexibility, or culture
- Automated, impersonal communication that makes candidates feel unseen
2025 Trend: The Rise of Candidate Experience 2.0
Recruitment has become more relationship-driven again. Despite the adoption of AI screening tools, human connection is the differentiator.
Employers investing in personalised communication: quick updates, genuine feedback, and visibility into culture are the ones securing talent. In fact, 72% of candidates in recent ANZ surveys said “regular communication” is the number one factor influencing whether they accept a role.
2026 Forecast: Faster, Smarter Hiring
By 2026, expect hiring to become even more candidate centric. Automation will handle early-stage admin, but employers who move fastest from shortlist to offer will win the best talent.
To prepare:
- Streamline interviews to 2–3 stages max
- Use pre-booked interview blocks to reduce time-to-hire
- Empower managers to make decisions faster
Build a Brand That Candidates Don’t Ghost
In smaller markets like Brisbane, Wellington, or Christchurch, your reputation matters. Candidates share experiences, and strong employer brands are now a deciding factor.
Showcase your values, flexibility, and development pathways early. Highlight staff stories, training programs, and leadership accessibility.
When candidates feel they’re joining a culture, not just a company, they stick around.
Share Your Hiring Frustrations
At Frontline Recruitment Group, we’re collecting real insights from employers across Australia and New Zealand to better understand 2025’s hiring hurdles from ghosting to retention challenges.
Take our 5-minute survey and you could WIN 1 of 5 × $200 Gift Cards.
Your insights will help us shape smarter hiring solutions for 2026 and perhaps exorcise ghosting for good!
👉 We want to hear from EMPLOYERS like you 👉 WIN 1 OF 5 $200 Gift Cards 💸 Survey