Indeed’s 3 Game-Changing Updates That Every Recruiting Leader Needs to Know

It’s been quite a year for Indeed – new pricing, shifting traffic patterns, and the beat goes on. Let’s focus on three key Indeed updates introduced in 2024:

1. A new fee for API usage
2. Lower visibility for unsponsored job listings
3. A stronger push toward flexible staffing and dynamic pricing

These aren’t just surface-level tweaks. These changes hint at deeper shifts in how this industry behemoth plans to continue delivering value to job seekers and employers in an evolving market, amidst escalating competition.

Let’s delve deeper and unpack the three most significant changes that have been rolled out this year. 

Big Change #1: The $3 Charge for API Calls

Indeed recently introduced a $3 charge for every call made to its sponsored jobs API, effective October 1, 2024. This is a significant shift, especially for platforms and services that rely heavily on their API.

Some users make thousands of calls each month, often unnecessarily. This approach was great in theory, but the sheer number of calls has strained Indeed’s API infrastructure, making management and maintenance difficult and costly. The $3 charge acts as a sluice gate, to create a more controlled and predictable usage environment.

But why should this matter to you?

If your recruitment team leans heavily on Indeed’s API, this change could hit where it hurts: your wallet. Assuming 30 API calls are made daily, the new charge would mean an extra $2,700 a month. Agencies without the ability to adjust their API calls will likely be forced to pass this cost on to clients.

Or they can make fewer calls, but fewer pings means fewer updates, slower stats, and potentially delayed decisions – all of which could slow down recruitment efforts and increase costs.

So, what’s the best way to handle this?

Make sure your tech stack is fine-tuned to make the right calls at the right times. By focusing on better API call management, users will avoid unnecessary expenses and ensure recruitment efforts are running smoothly – without incurring unexpected costs. 

Big Change #2: Decline in Organic Traffic for Job Listings

Indeed is changing its approach to managing organic traffic for job listings, and it’s likely to result in fewer applicants… unless it is a paid listing.

If you are relying on organic (free) traffic, it’s time to rethink your strategy, perhaps spreading your paid campaigns across multiple channels, not just relying on Indeed. 

This will help maintain the same level of reach.

Plus, having detailed performance analytics will ensure that you get the most out of every dollar spent.

So, what should be your game plan?

Programmatic job advertising is one alternative. Here’s why:

1. Multi-channel posting: The first plan is to stay visible by branching out. Programmatic will post your jobs across a wide network of job boards and platforms.
2. AI-driven adjustments: AI automatically adjusts your job ad placements, bids, and budgets in real-time across multiple platforms. This helps maximize your ROI. 
3. In-depth analytics: You can gain insights into channels that work best for specific job types, which can help you allocate your budget most effectively.
4. Better job content: The right programmatic job ad partner will ensure that job descriptions and postings are fine-tuned to perform well, both in organic and paid listings across multiple platforms.

Big Change #3: Indeed’s Renewed Focus on Flex and the Intro of Dynamic Pricing

Indeed is now doubling down on two major initiatives: renewing its focus on Indeed Flex and rolling out dynamic pricing.

Indeed Flex, the organization’s staffing service, is getting a significant boost, which could mean more competition for staffing agencies. 

At the same time, dynamic pricing could lead to fluctuating costs for job postings, particularly for high-demand roles. In fact, you may pay $1 for a warehouse worker but $200 for a nurse. Those numbers could go even higher.

Why does this matter to you?

Staffing agencies: Increased attention to Indeed Flex means you need to revisit your unique value proposition and adapt to stay competitive.

Employers: Flex provides another option for finding temporary staff, but dynamic pricing may make recruitment budgets harder to predict.

Recruitment marketers: a flexible approach to budgeting and job advertising is key. Fluctuating costs require careful monitoring of expenses and diversification across channels to optimize spending.

These shifts aren’t just about tech. They’re about users adapting to a new normal with Indeed. A normal that is demanding the industry step it up.

If you’re already diversifying your efforts across channels, you’re on the right track. But if you’re wondering how these changes might affect your strategy, we’d be happy to chat and share some insights on navigating this evolving space.