Familiar faces | Employers rehire former staff as boomerang recruitment rises

Former employees are being rehired at scale, with so-called 'boomerang' employees now representing a significant share of recruitment activity across the labor market.

Although the returning staff members make up only 2% of the overall workforce, they accounted for more than one-third of all new hires in March, according to ADP payroll data.

Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist, said rehiring known employees offers clear advantages for organizations looking to manage recruitment costs and reduce risk. “We’re seeing that for workers, the grass may not always be greener someplace else,” she explained. “So, they’re looking to return to former employers.”

Companies cut onboarding costs with 'boomerang' workers

For employers facing financial scrutiny and operational pressures, returning talent is seen as a practical solution. “They wanna get the most efficient hire possible,” Richardson said. “And often that means onboarding someone who’s familiar with the turf, who’s familiar with the company, and who can hit the ground running.”