HR Software Statistics 2026
This page collects figures on how organizations use HR software: AI and automation in HR, the value HR leaders get from their systems, the vendors and applicant tracking systems that dominate the market, recruiter workload, time to hire and cost per hire, payroll errors, and onboarding. Most figures describe the United States and the United Kingdom in 2025 and 2026, with a few older baselines labeled as such. Sources include Gartner, SHRM, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Department of Labor, company filings from Workday, ADP and Paychex, and recruiting and payroll vendors that publish their survey method or platform data.
By the TopToolAdvisor research desk · Updated November 5, 2026 · 54 figures from 25 sources
Quick answer
HR teams are adopting AI fast but struggling to get value from it: Gartner found organizations piloting or implementing generative AI in HR rose from 19% to 61% between 2023 and 2025, yet 88% of HR leaders said they had not realized significant business value from AI tools. Hiring still takes five to nine weeks, with SHRM putting the 2025 median nonexecutive cost per hire at $1,200, and payroll errors remain common: 40% of employees in Remote's survey had one in the past year.
Key figures
- 61%Organizations piloting or implementing generative AI in HR rose from 19% in June 2023 to 61% in January 2025, according to Gartner surveys of 197 HR leaders.Gartner
- 88%88% of HR leaders said their organizations had not realized significant business value from AI tools, in a July 2025 Gartner survey of 114 HR leaders.Gartner
- 24%Only 24% of HR functions were maximizing the business value of their HR technology in 2024, according to a Gartner survey of 85 HR leaders.Gartner
- 97.4%Jobscan detected an applicant tracking system for 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies in 2026.Jobscan
- 291Recruiters on Ashby processed an average of 291 applications per hire in early 2026, compared with about 100 in early 2021.Ashby
- $1,200The median cost per hire for nonexecutive roles was $1,200 in 2025, 27% lower than in 2017, according to SHRM.SHRM
- 40%40% of employees surveyed by Remote in the US and UK had experienced a payroll error in the past year, and almost 11% in the past month.Remote
- 84%84% of UK small and medium-sized businesses admitted to payroll errors in a 2025 Employment Hero survey of 1,000 SME leaders.Employment Hero
What the figures show
AI is the fastest moving part of HR software. Gartner found the share of organizations piloting or implementing generative AI in HR rose from 19% in 2023 to 61% in early 2025, and it predicts half of current HR tasks will be automated or handled by AI agents by 2030. SD Worx reports that 55% of UK organizations invested in AI for HR in 2025, up from 35% a year earlier, with learning, recruitment and HR support leading. Hiring managers are mostly on board: 70% in Greenhouse's 2025 survey said AI helps them make faster, better decisions.
Value has lagged spending. In Gartner's 2024 survey only 24% of HR functions were getting the most out of their HR technology, and 69% of employees hit a barrier using it. The same pattern repeated with AI: 88% of HR leaders told Gartner in 2025 that AI tools had not yet produced significant business value, only 7% of organizations had guidance on using time saved by AI, and by 2026 38% of companies were over budget on AI.
The market is concentrated. Workday serves more than 11,500 organizations including over 65% of the Fortune 500, ADP's revenue reached $21.9 billion in fiscal 2026, and Paychex pays 1 in 11 US private sector workers. Jobscan found an applicant tracking system at 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies, with Workday the most common. Those systems now handle far more volume: Ashby recruiters processed 291 applications per hire in early 2026, about three times the 2021 level, and 34% of recruiters in Greenhouse's survey spent up to half their week filtering spam applications.
Hiring speed has held steady despite the volume. SHRM's 2025 benchmarks put the median executive time to fill at 45 days, SmartRecruiters reports a 38 day global median time to hire and iCIMS a 40 day time to fill in August 2026. Payroll remains the most error prone HR process: Remote found 40% of employees had a payroll error in the past year, 84% of UK SMEs in an Employment Hero survey admitted to errors, and the Department of Labor recovered $259 million in back wages in fiscal 2025. In onboarding, 73% of new hires were satisfied, but 60% got no training on AI tools.
How fast HR teams are adopting AI and automation
- 1.
Organizations piloting or implementing generative AI in HR rose from 19% in June 2023 to 61% in January 2025, according to Gartner surveys of 197 HR leaders.
Gartner, Gartner Announces Top Trends Shaping HR Priorities in Australia in 2026 (Nov 2025)
Source quote
In addition, Gartner surveys of 197 HR leaders in June 2023 and January 2025 revealed the number of organizations piloting and implementing generative AI has surged from 19% to 61% in just two years.
- 2.
Gartner predicts that 50% of current HR tasks will be automated or managed by AI agents by 2030.
Gartner, Gartner Announces Top Trends Shaping HR Priorities in Australia in 2026 (Nov 2025)
Source quote
Gartner predicts 50% of current HR tasks will be automated or managed by AI agents by 2030, fundamentally transforming HR’s work, roles and workflows.
- 3.
The share of UK organizations investing in AI for HR rose from 35% in 2024 to 55% in 2025, according to SD Worx's European HR research.
SD Worx, UK HR professionals lead Europe in AI adoption (Jun 2025)
Source quote
Investment in AI for HR has seen a significant year-on-year increase in the UK, rising from 35% in 2024 to 55% in 2025.
- 4.
31% of UK HR employees said they regularly used AI at work in 2025, up from 21.6% a year earlier and above the European average of 23%.
SD Worx, UK HR professionals lead Europe in AI adoption (Jun 2025)
Source quote
In the UK, 31% now say they regularly use AI at work – up from 21.6% last year and well above the European average of 23%.
- 5.
70% of hiring managers in Greenhouse's 2025 survey across the US, UK, Ireland and Germany said AI helps them make faster and better hiring decisions with fewer recruiter resources.
Greenhouse, An AI Trust Crisis: 70% of Hiring Managers Trust AI to Make Faster and Better Hiring Decisions, Only 8% of Job Seekers Call it Fair (Nov 2025)
Source quote
Seven in every ten (70%) hiring managers say AI helps them make faster and better hiring decisions with fewer recruiter resources.
- 6.
Recruiting teams that use AI hire 26% faster than those that do not, based on SmartRecruiters platform benchmarks for 2025 to 2026.
SmartRecruiters, Recruiting Benchmarks 2025-2026 (2026)
Source quote
However, companies using AI in their recruiting processes hire 26% faster, making the case for additional technology investment to bring better hiring outcomes.
- 7.
38% of companies were over budget on AI in 2026, and 85% planned to spend more the following year, according to Gartner's HR practice.
Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 77% of Board Members Expect AI to Deliver Productivity and Cost Savings, Yet Just 3% of Organizations Exceed Cost Savings Goals Via Productivity (Oct 2026)
Source quote
CV Viverito, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner shared that 38% of companies are over budget on AI at Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo in Orlando.
Chart
Most common areas of AI investment in UK HR, 2025
Share of UK organizations investing in AI for each HR area, SD Worx survey, 2025.
- Learning and development31%
- Recruitment28%
- HR support28%
Source: SD Worx, UK HR professionals lead Europe in AI adoption
Whether HR software delivers value
- 8.
Only 24% of HR functions were maximizing the business value of their HR technology in 2024, according to a Gartner survey of 85 HR leaders.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Reveals Only 24% of HR Functions Are Maximizing the Business Value from HR Technology (Jun 2024)
Source quote
Gartner Survey Reveals Only 24% of HR Functions Are Maximizing the Business Value from HR Technology
- 9.
Only 35% of HR leaders surveyed by Gartner in February 2024 were confident their current approach to HR technology was helping achieve business objectives.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Reveals Only 24% of HR Functions Are Maximizing the Business Value from HR Technology (Jun 2024)
Source quote
A Gartner survey of 85 HR leaders in February 2024 found: Only 35% are confident their current approach to HR technology is helping to achieve business objectives.
- 10.
69% of more than 1,200 employees surveyed by Gartner in February 2024 hit at least one barrier when using HR technology in the prior 12 months.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Reveals Only 24% of HR Functions Are Maximizing the Business Value from HR Technology (Jun 2024)
Source quote
Among more than 1,200 employees surveyed by Gartner in February 2024, 69% reported experiencing at least one barrier when interacting with HR technology in the past 12 months.
- 11.
88% of HR leaders said their organizations had not realized significant business value from AI tools, in a July 2025 Gartner survey of 114 HR leaders.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Shows 88% of HR Leaders Say Their Organizations Have Not Realized Significant Business Value from AI Tools (Oct 2025)
Source quote
Gartner Survey Shows 88% of HR Leaders Say Their Organizations Have Not Realized Significant Business Value from AI Tools
- 12.
Only 7% of organizations gave employees guidelines on how to use time saved by AI, according to the same July 2025 Gartner survey.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Shows 88% of HR Leaders Say Their Organizations Have Not Realized Significant Business Value from AI Tools (Oct 2025)
Source quote
Only 7% of organizations provide guidelines to employees on how to use time saved by AI, according to a Gartner July 2025 survey of 114 HR leaders.
- 13.
78% of CHROs in a July 2026 Gartner survey of 297 CHROs said leaders had no alignment on where AI creates value.
Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 77% of Board Members Expect AI to Deliver Productivity and Cost Savings, Yet Just 3% of Organizations Exceed Cost Savings Goals Via Productivity (Oct 2026)
Source quote
A July 2026 Gartner survey of 297 CHROs revealed that 78% of leaders have no alignment on where AI creates value.
- 14.
41.7% of UK respondents in SD Worx's 2025 study said their organization had already seen significant outcomes from using AI in HR.
SD Worx, UK HR professionals lead Europe in AI adoption (Jun 2025)
Source quote
Despite strong investment levels, less than half (41.7%) of UK respondents say their organisation has already seen significant outcomes from using AI in HR, highlighting that many are still in the early stages of their AI adoption journey.
HR software vendors and applicant tracking systems
- 15.
Workday was used by more than 11,500 organizations as of early 2026, including more than 65% of the Fortune 500.
Workday, Workday Announces Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results (Feb 2026)
Source quote
Workday is used by more than 11,500 organizations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 65% of the Fortune 500.
- 16.
Workday's total revenue reached $9.552 billion in fiscal 2026, up 13.1% from fiscal 2025.
Workday, Workday Announces Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results (Feb 2026)
Source quote
Total revenues were $9.552 billion, an increase of 13.1% from fiscal 2025.
- 17.
ADP's revenue grew 7% to $21.9 billion in fiscal 2026, which ended June 30, 2026.
ADP, ADP Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2026 Results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99) (Jul 2026)
Source quote
For the full year, revenues increased 7% to $21.9 billion and 6% on an organic constant currency basis.
- 18.
ADP Employer Services kept 92.1% of client revenue in fiscal 2026, flat on the prior year.
ADP, ADP Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2026 Results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99) (Jul 2026)
Source quote
Employer Services client revenue retention remained flat at 92.1% for the fiscal year
- 19.
Paychex served about 800,000 payroll clients in fiscal 2026 and paid 1 in 11 US private sector workers.
Paychex, Paychex, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2026 (Jul 2026)
Source quote
Serving approximately 800,000 payroll clients, we pay 1 in 11 U.S. private sector workers and moved approximately $1.3 trillion last fiscal year.
- 20.
Jobscan detected an applicant tracking system for 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies in 2026.
Jobscan, Applicant Tracking System Usage Report: Fortune 500 Companies (2026)
Source quote
In 2026, we detected an ATS for 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies.
- 21.
Workday (39.2%) and SuccessFactors (13.2%) were the most used applicant tracking systems among Fortune 500 companies in 2025.
Jobscan, Applicant Tracking System Usage Report: Fortune 500 Companies (2026)
Source quote
In 2025, Workday (39.2% usage rate) and SuccessFactors (13.2% usage rate) were the most widely used ATS.
- 22.
44.0% of sourced hires in 2024 were candidates rediscovered in a company's own CRM or ATS, up from 29.1% in 2021, according to Gem's platform data.
Gem, 10 takeaways from the 2025 Recruiting Benchmarks Report (2025)
Source quote
The proportion of sourced hires that are rediscovered within companies’ CRM or ATS has shown a clear upward trend, rising from 29.1% in 2021 to 44.0% in 2024.
Application volume and recruiter workload
- 23.
Recruiters on Ashby processed an average of 291 applications per hire in early 2026, compared with about 100 in early 2021.
Ashby, Recruiter Productivity, Talent Trends Report (May 2026)
Source quote
The average recruiter today is processing 291 applications per hire, compared to roughly 100 in early 2021.
- 24.
Only 3.6% to 4.7% of applications led to an interview on Ashby in 2026, down from about 7% to 8% in 2021.
Ashby, Recruiter Productivity, Talent Trends Report (May 2026)
Source quote
Today that figure sits between 3.6% and 4.7% depending on role type.
- 25.
The average recruiter on Gem managed 14 open requisitions and more than 2,500 applications in 2024, 2.7 times the applications of three years earlier.
Gem, 10 takeaways from the 2025 Recruiting Benchmarks Report (2025)
Source quote
The average recruiter manages 56% more open job reqs (14) and 2.7× more applications (2,500+) than three years ago.
- 26.
US employers on the iCIMS platform received 30 applicants per opening in August 2026.
iCIMS, ICIMS Insights September 2026 Workforce Report (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Applicants per opening fell to 30, leaving employers less room for delays in screening, interviewing and offers.
- 27.
34% of recruiters in Greenhouse's 2025 survey spent up to half their week filtering spam and junk applications, and 91% had spotted candidate deception.
Greenhouse, An AI Trust Crisis: 70% of Hiring Managers Trust AI to Make Faster and Better Hiring Decisions, Only 8% of Job Seekers Call it Fair (Nov 2025)
Source quote
Over nine in every ten (91%) recruiters have spotted candidate deception, and 34% spend up to half their week filtering spam and junk applications.
- 28.
Only 21% of hiring managers were very confident their AI systems were not rejecting qualified candidates in 2025.
Greenhouse, An AI Trust Crisis: 70% of Hiring Managers Trust AI to Make Faster and Better Hiring Decisions, Only 8% of Job Seekers Call it Fair (Nov 2025)
Source quote
Only 21% are very confident that their systems aren’t rejecting qualified candidates.
- 29.
55% of US organizations had dedicated in-house recruiters in 2025, according to SHRM's benchmarking survey of 2,371 members.
SHRM, 2025 Recruiting Benchmarking: Insights to Maximize Recruitment (data brief) (2025)
Source quote
Just over half (55%) of organizations reported they have dedicated recruiters (i.e., employees of the organization as opposed to third-party contractors).
Time to hire and cost per hire
- 30.
The median time to fill an executive role fell to 45 days in 2025 from 60 days in 2022, according to SHRM benchmarking data.
SHRM, 2025 Recruiting Benchmarking: Insights to Maximize Recruitment (data brief) (2025)
Source quote
Although the time-to-fill for executive roles dropped significantly (from 60 days to 45 days), the cost-per-hire increased.
- 31.
The median cost per hire for nonexecutive roles was $1,200 in 2025, 27% lower than in 2017, according to SHRM.
SHRM, 2025 Recruiting Benchmarking: Insights to Maximize Recruitment (data brief) (2025)
Source quote
In 2025, the cost-per-hire for nonexecutive roles was $1,200, reflecting a 27% decrease since 2017 and a modest decline from $1,244 in 2022.
- 32.
The median cost per hire for executive roles reached $10,625 in 2025, up 113% from 2017, according to SHRM.
SHRM, 2025 Recruiting Benchmarking: Insights to Maximize Recruitment (data brief) (2025)
Source quote
By contrast, the 2025 cost-per-hire for executive roles reached $10,625, representing a striking 113% increase from 2017 and a 21% rise from 2022.
- 33.
Business roles on Ashby had a median time to hire of 30 days in the year to Q1 2026, with 75% closing within 46 days.
Ashby, Recruiter Productivity, Talent Trends Report (May 2026)
Source quote
Business roles have a median of 30 days to hire, with 75% of roles closing within 46 days.
- 34.
The global median time to hire across SmartRecruiters customers was 38 days in its 2025 to 2026 benchmarks.
SmartRecruiters, Recruiting Benchmarks 2025-2026 (2026)
Source quote
The global median time to hire is 38 days.
- 35.
Time to fill on the iCIMS platform reached 40 days in August 2026.
iCIMS, ICIMS Insights September 2026 Workforce Report (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Time to fill reached 40 days.
- 36.
Average time to fill fell from 67.7 days in 2024 to 63.5 days in 2025 across Employ's customer data.
Employ Inc., What Will Good Hiring Look Like in 2026? New Employ Inc. Report Reveals Key Recruiting Benchmarks (2026)
Source quote
time to fill showing a marked decrease from 67.7 days in 2024 to 63.5 days in 2025.
- 37.
Average time to hire on Gem rose 24% to 41 days in 2024, from 33 days in 2021.
Gem, 10 takeaways from the 2025 Recruiting Benchmarks Report (2025)
Source quote
contributing to a 24% increase in average time to hire (41 vs.
- 38.
US employers made 5.4 million hires in September 2026, with 7.5 million job openings, according to BLS JOLTS data.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, September 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
Hires and total separations changed little at 5.4 million and 5.3 million, respectively.
Chart
Days to hire on Ashby, business vs technical roles
Days from application to hire on Ashby customer data, Q1 2025 to Q1 2026.
- Business, median30 days
- Business, 75% closed within46 days
- Technical, median40 days
- Technical, 75% closed within57 days
Source: Ashby, Recruiter Productivity, Talent Trends Report
Payroll errors and their cost
- 39.
40% of employees surveyed by Remote in the US and UK had experienced a payroll error in the past year, and almost 11% in the past month.
Remote, 2024 State of Payroll Report: the hidden costs of payroll mistakes (2024)
Source quote
40% had encountered a payroll error in the past year, while almost 11% had suffered a payroll mistake in the last month alone.
- 40.
Among employees who had a payroll error, 42% were underpaid and 24% were paid late, according to Remote's 2024 survey.
Remote, 2024 State of Payroll Report: the hidden costs of payroll mistakes (2024)
Source quote
Of those who’d experienced a payroll error, 42% reported that they’d been underpaid, while almost a quarter (24%) had received a late payment.
- 41.
49% of HR teams spent five or more hours a month resolving pay-related issues in 2024, according to Remote's survey of HR decision-makers.
Remote, 2024 State of Payroll Report: the hidden costs of payroll mistakes (2024)
Source quote
almost half (49%) of HR teams spend five or more hours resolving pay-related issues each month, particularly in larger organizations.
- 42.
84% of UK small and medium-sized businesses admitted to payroll errors in a 2025 Employment Hero survey of 1,000 SME leaders.
Employment Hero, Payroll fines hit millions of UK SMEs as errors persist, new data reveals (Aug 2025)
Source quote
New research from leading employment platform Employment Hero reveals that payroll compliance is a considerable risk for small businesses, with 84% admitting to payroll errors and more than a third having faced fines, costing them thousands of pounds.
- 43.
40% of UK SMEs had incurred penalties for payroll problems such as underpayments, late wage runs or reporting failures in 2025.
Employment Hero, Payroll fines hit millions of UK SMEs as errors persist, new data reveals (Aug 2025)
Source quote
The survey of 1,000 SME business leaders found that 40% have incurred penalties due to issues such as underpayments, late wage runs or reporting failures.
- 44.
31% of UK SMEs still ran payroll with spreadsheets or forms in 2025.
Employment Hero, Payroll fines hit millions of UK SMEs as errors persist, new data reveals (Aug 2025)
Source quote
Manual processing remains common, with 31% still relying on spreadsheets or forms to run payroll.
- 45.
One in five US payrolls contained errors, each costing an average of $291 to fix, in a 2022 EY survey; this is older data kept as a cost baseline.
EY, EY survey: Payroll errors average $291 each, impacting the economy (release published by Paycom) (Dec 2022)
Source quote
One in five payrolls in the United States contains errors, each costing an average of $291, according to a new Ernst & Young survey.
- 46.
The US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $259 million in back wages for nearly 177,000 workers in fiscal year 2025, an average of $1,465 per worker.
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, US Department of Labor recovers more than $259M in back wages for workers in 2025 (Jan 2026)
Source quote
has recovered more than $259 million in back wages for nearly 177,000 employees nationwide – an average of $1,465 per worker – in fiscal year 2025
- 47.
77% of US workers in PayrollOrg's 2024 survey said a one-week paycheck delay would make it somewhat or very difficult to meet their financial obligations.
PayrollOrg, Survey Reveals Majority of Americans Still Living Paycheck to Paycheck (Sep 2024)
Source quote
Of the 36,729 individuals who responded to this question, 28,375 respondents, or 77 percent, said they would find it somewhat or very difficult to meet their financial obligations.
- 48.
39% of US workers in PayrollOrg's 2024 survey were uncomfortable with AI being used to calculate their pay.
PayrollOrg, Survey Finds America's Workers Wary of AI Use in Payroll Management (Sep 2024)
Source quote
Of the 35,884 individuals who responded to this question, 13,939 respondents, or 39 percent, said they would be somewhat or very uncomfortable with the use of AI to calculate your pay.
Chart
Most common payroll errors at UK SMEs, 2025
Share of 1,000 UK SME leaders reporting each error type, Employment Hero survey, 2025.
- Calculating wages incorrectly48%
- Late or missing payments38%
- Calculating correct hours36%
- Incorrect tax calculations27%
Source: Employment Hero, Payroll fines hit millions of UK SMEs as errors persist, new data reveals
Onboarding new hires
- 49.
73% of US employees hired in the past year were satisfied with their onboarding experience, according to a 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey of 1,156 new hires.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, Next-gen Onboarding: Redefining the New Hire Journey (2025)
Source quote
Most new hires (73%) feel positive about their onboarding experience.
- 50.
39% of new hires had second thoughts about their new job during onboarding in 2025.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, Next-gen Onboarding: Redefining the New Hire Journey (2025)
Source quote
Yet 39% had second thoughts about their new job during the process.
- 51.
60% of new hires received no training on AI tools during onboarding in 2025.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, Next-gen Onboarding: Redefining the New Hire Journey (2025)
Source quote
60% of employees didn’t receive training on AI tools during onboarding.
- 52.
32% of new hires used AI tools more often than they asked a manager, HR or colleagues to answer onboarding questions in 2025.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, Next-gen Onboarding: Redefining the New Hire Journey (2025)
Source quote
32% of employees said they used AI tools more often than they asked a manager, HR, or colleagues to answer questions during onboarding.
- 53.
70% of US new hires decided whether a job was the right fit within the first month, and 29% within the first week, in a 2023 BambooHR study; older data shown for context.
BambooHR, 44% Of New Hires Regret their Decision Within a Week, BambooHR Study Finds (Sep 2023)
Source quote
The study of 1,565 full-time US employees and 500 HR professionals showed that 70 percent of new hires decide if a new job is the right fit for them within the first month, with 29 percent knowing within the first week.
- 54.
51% of new hires named technology issues among their top onboarding frustrations in BambooHR's 2023 study.
BambooHR, 44% Of New Hires Regret their Decision Within a Week, BambooHR Study Finds (Sep 2023)
Source quote
Employees' top frustrations with onboarding include a lack of clarity around who can answer questions (65 percent), inadequate training on company products and services (62 percent), and technology issues (51 percent).
Chart
New hires satisfied with onboarding, by format
US employees hired in the prior 12 months, 2025 survey.
- Hybrid75%
- In person73%
- Remote71%
Source: TalentLMS and BambooHR, Next-gen Onboarding: Redefining the New Hire Journey
Common questions
- How many companies use HR software or an applicant tracking system?
- Almost all large employers do. Jobscan detected an applicant tracking system at 97.4% of Fortune 500 companies in 2026, and Workday alone serves more than 11,500 organizations including over 65% of the Fortune 500. Paychex pays 1 in 11 US private sector workers through its payroll software.
- How many HR departments use AI?
- Gartner found that organizations piloting or implementing generative AI in HR grew from 19% in 2023 to 61% in early 2025. In the UK, SD Worx reports 55% of organizations invested in AI for HR in 2025. Value is lagging, though: 88% of HR leaders told Gartner they had not yet seen significant business value from AI tools.
- What is the average time to hire in 2025 and 2026?
- Most benchmarks fall between 30 and 64 days. SmartRecruiters reports a 38 day global median time to hire, iCIMS a 40 day time to fill in August 2026, SHRM a 45 day median for executive roles in 2025, and Employ an average time to fill of 63.5 days in 2025. The spread reflects different definitions and customer mixes.
- How common are payroll errors?
- Very common. Remote found 40% of US and UK employees had a payroll error in the past year, and 84% of UK small businesses in a 2025 Employment Hero survey admitted to payroll errors, with 40% fined. An older EY survey put the average cost of fixing one error at $291.
- How much does it cost to hire an employee?
- SHRM's 2025 benchmarking put the median cost per hire at $1,200 for nonexecutive roles and $10,625 for executive roles. Executive costs rose 113% since 2017, while nonexecutive costs fell 27% over the same period.
How we picked these figures
We selected figures published in 2025 and 2026 where possible and kept a few older baselines (Gartner 2024, BambooHR 2023, EY 2022), which are labeled with their year. Every figure links to the organization that collected the data: government agencies (BLS, Department of Labor), research and membership bodies (Gartner, SHRM, PayrollOrg), public company filings (Workday, ADP, Paychex), and software vendors that publish survey samples or platform data (Ashby, Gem, Greenhouse, iCIMS, SmartRecruiters, Employ, Jobscan, Remote, Employment Hero, SD Worx, TalentLMS, BambooHR). Vendor data reflects each vendor's own customers and has a commercial interest, and definitions differ: time to fill runs from requisition to accepted offer while time to hire usually starts at application. Each quote was checked against the live source page on the date shown. Each quote is copied from the original publisher and fetched again by a script to confirm it still appears there. See the methodology.
Sources
- ADP. ADP Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2026 Results (Form 8-K, Exhibit 99) (Jul 2026).
- Ashby. Recruiter Productivity, Talent Trends Report (May 2026).
- BambooHR. 44% Of New Hires Regret their Decision Within a Week, BambooHR Study Finds (Sep 2023).
- Employ Inc.. What Will Good Hiring Look Like in 2026? New Employ Inc. Report Reveals Key Recruiting Benchmarks (2026).
- Employment Hero. Payroll fines hit millions of UK SMEs as errors persist, new data reveals (Aug 2025).
- EY. EY survey: Payroll errors average $291 each, impacting the economy (release published by Paycom) (Dec 2022).
- Gartner. Gartner Announces Top Trends Shaping HR Priorities in Australia in 2026 (Nov 2025).
- Gartner. Gartner HR Research Finds 77% of Board Members Expect AI to Deliver Productivity and Cost Savings, Yet Just 3% of Organizations Exceed Cost Savings Goals Via Productivity (Oct 2026).
- Gartner. Gartner Survey Reveals Only 24% of HR Functions Are Maximizing the Business Value from HR Technology (Jun 2024).
- Gartner. Gartner Survey Shows 88% of HR Leaders Say Their Organizations Have Not Realized Significant Business Value from AI Tools (Oct 2025).
- Gem. 10 takeaways from the 2025 Recruiting Benchmarks Report (2025).
- Greenhouse. An AI Trust Crisis: 70% of Hiring Managers Trust AI to Make Faster and Better Hiring Decisions, Only 8% of Job Seekers Call it Fair (Nov 2025).
- iCIMS. ICIMS Insights September 2026 Workforce Report (Sep 2026).
- Jobscan. Applicant Tracking System Usage Report: Fortune 500 Companies (2026).
- Paychex. Paychex, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2026 (Jul 2026).
- PayrollOrg. Survey Reveals Majority of Americans Still Living Paycheck to Paycheck (Sep 2024).
- PayrollOrg. Survey Finds America's Workers Wary of AI Use in Payroll Management (Sep 2024).
- Remote. 2024 State of Payroll Report: the hidden costs of payroll mistakes (2024).
- SD Worx. UK HR professionals lead Europe in AI adoption (Jun 2025).
- SHRM. 2025 Recruiting Benchmarking: Insights to Maximize Recruitment (data brief) (2025).
- SmartRecruiters. Recruiting Benchmarks 2025-2026 (2026).
- TalentLMS and BambooHR. Next-gen Onboarding: Redefining the New Hire Journey (2025).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary, September 2026 (Nov 2026).
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. US Department of Labor recovers more than $259M in back wages for workers in 2025 (Jan 2026).
- Workday. Workday Announces Fiscal 2026 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results (Feb 2026).
How to cite
You can link to the whole page or to any single figure. When you quote a number, please credit the organization that first published it.
TopToolAdvisor. (2026, November 5). HR Software Statistics 2026. https://toptooladvisor.com/hr-software-statistics
Questions or corrections: editorial@toptooladvisor.com. Next review due January 4, 2027.