From the Editor…
Recently, we hosted a behind-closed-doors roundtable for Job Board Leaders, with 40+ attendees from a global audience, bringing together those who want to be at the forefront of where the industry is going, not reacting after the fact.
The conversation was candid and strategic: the real state of the market, what’s changing, and how job boards adapt to stay relevant. Early feedback was clear – there’s huge value in a trusted space to share experiences across markets and realise you’re not tackling these challenges alone.
We’ll be continuing these sessions (this is the form to register for the next one on 26 March) and taking the conversation in person in London this May for our JBC Unplugged conference – early bird tickets available until 13 March.
Warm regards,
Louise Grant
Co-Founder, Job Boards Connect
Are you an AI Guru?
We are looking for job boards doing genuinely impressive things with AI…
As we shape upcoming content for JBC Unplugged in May, we’re keen to spotlight job boards that are actually pushing things forward with:
– AI in matching & recommendations
– Smart curation
– AI-assisted job creation
– Automation that improves quality or efficiency
– Anything that genuinely improves outcomes (not just adds noise)
If you’ve seen – or are running – something that’s working well, we’d love to hear about it. Drop Louise T a note.
In the News
A Surprisingly Strong Start to 2026
In a much needed piece of positive news, some sources are reporting a strong start to the year. New labour market data suggests hiring momentum is improving, with record application volumes and rising engagement from jobseekers. According to Sebastian Dettmers, CEO of StepStone, January saw unprecedented demand, with applications per vacancy jumping sharply year-on-year.
Analysts at Recruitonomics also noted resilience, citing early signs of economic recovery, demographic shifts, and growing confidence among employers and candidates. Experts say technology and retirements could unlock further opportunities in 2026, boosting optimism across sectors and reinforcing hopes of sustained hiring growth this year ahead.
Here at Job Boards Connect, we are certainly keeping our fingers crossed that this is a sign of things to come!
Jobiqo is the leading provider of job board & matching technology and help international media brands, associations, universities and digital pure plays to monetize their job boards. Want to learn more? Let’s talk!
Job Boards Connect News is supported by Jobiqo.
2026 Global Recruitment Site Platform Survey Results Are In
The Job Board Doctor survey results are in, offering fresh insight into the technology platforms powering recruitment sites worldwide in 2026. The annual global survey, conducted by Job Board Doctor with support from Job Boards Connect, highlights the most widely used providers and emerging trends shaping the sector.
The findings point to continued investment in AI, analytics, and scalable infrastructure as job boards modernise operations. With competition intensifying, the results provide valuable benchmarks for operators assessing their technology partners and planning future growth in an evolving digital recruitment landscape.
(.. find out more)
UBIO lets you bring the entire application process onto your platform. Our customers tell us this helps them increase completed applications, improve the candidate experience and access full attribution tracking. All with a single API. Find out more.
Job Boards Connect News is supported by UBIO.
Seiza to Rebrand as Adzuna, Bringing Employers a Stronger Global Hiring Solution
Seiza has rebranded as Adzuna, marking the full integration of the social media recruitment specialist into the global job search and advertising platform. The move follows Adzuna’s 2024 acquisition and creates a unified recruitment advertising solution combining job listings, social sourcing, automation, and labour market insights.
Employers will gain broader reach across active and passive candidates, alongside enhanced AI-powered tools to improve sourcing, engagement, and hiring efficiency. Existing contracts and campaigns remain unchanged during the brand transition period across Europe and beyond to support talent acquisition teams worldwide in competitive hiring markets today and tomorrow.
(.. find out more)
From 5,700 to 700 Jobs: How Niche Jobs Boosted Performance by Prioritising Quality
Niche Jobs’ bold experiment with Jobiqo technology is paying off. After migrating its four specialist job boards and slashing listings from about 5,700 to roughly 700 curated roles, the UK-based healthcare and social care recruitment platform has seen measurable gains in search visibility and relevance, founder Matt Farrah says. The overhaul included deliberate cuts to duplicate jobs and a geo-blocker to boost quality over volume, shedding traditional assumptions that “more jobs = more traffic.” Early data shows improved Google search rankings and stronger signals that focused content and relevance can drive better outcomes for recruiters and candidates alike.
(.. find out more)
Movers and Shakers
Yattle Surpasses 30,000 Downloads as Major Employers Back Early Careers App
Yattle has surpassed 30,000 downloads across the Glasgow City Region, marking a major milestone for the employer-led early careers app. Developed by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Glasgow City Council, the platform is designed to connect young people with job opportunities through skills-based profiles rather than traditional CVs.
Major employers including Barclays, ScotRail and Scottish Power have signed up, reflecting growing confidence in the model. The initiative aims to tackle youth employment barriers while helping businesses address persistent skills shortages.
Wellfound Acquires Hirefly
Wellfound has acquired Hirefly, an AI-driven recruiting platform that automates outbound sourcing and inbound application review, marking a strategic expansion in its talent-acquisition capabilities. The move brings Hirefly’s agentic recruiting technology and existing customer base into Wellfound’s ecosystem, aiming to help talent teams work faster and more efficiently across both outbound search and applicant management.
Wellfound CEO Amit Matani said Hirefly’s “AI-first platform for modern hiring” complements its Autopilot service and underscores a shared commitment to modernising recruiting workflows. Hirefly’s co-founder Rohan Nagesh highlighted Wellfound’s scale and reputation as key to supporting customers into the future.
(.. find out more)
Zen Educate Acquires North East Education Recruiter AK Teaching
North East-based education recruitment specialist AK Teaching has been acquired by international education staffing technology platform Zen Educate, strengthening the buyer’s UK footprint. The Sunderland-founded agency, which supplies teaching and support staff to primary, secondary and SEND schools, will continue operating under its existing management with support from Zen Educate’s technology and investment infrastructure.
Zen Educate has raised more than $70 million to fuel expansion and connects schools with educators across the UK and US. AK Teaching founder Anthony Kirtley described the deal as an “exciting next chapter” that will enhance services for schools and candidates alike.
(.. find out more)
NextTechJobs Launches AI-Powered Job Search Platform for IT Professionals
NextTechJobs has launched a new AI-driven job search platform targeting IT professionals in the USA, UK, and Canada, aiming to simplify and accelerate tech hiring. The platform uses artificial intelligence to automate job applications, optimise resumes for applicant-tracking systems and tailor personalised career matches, reducing the manual burden of traditional job searches and helping candidates secure higher-paying roles more efficiently.
Designed to address challenges like age discrimination, underemployment and overqualification among tech workers, NextTechJobs’ tools allow users to apply broadly and improve job matching. The launch reflects growing adoption of AI in recruitment technology.
(.. find out more)
Recommended Reading
Why Job Boards Don’t Work for the Hourly Workforce: Here’s What’s Replacing Them
Traditional job boards are failing the hourly workforce, according to Juvo Jobs, which argues they prioritise volume, monetisation, and broad reach over proximity, speed, and trust. New platforms focused on local matching, video, and direct communication are emerging to better serve hourly workers.
(.. read more)
8 Tips for Starting a Job Board in 2026
“If you are launching a job board today, you aren’t just building a list of links; you are building a curated ecosystem”. If you’re here because you’re looking for tips on starting up your own job board, look no further than Chris Russell’s blueprint for launching in 2026.
(.. find out more)
Why Domain Pricing Matters for Recruitment Platforms
Domain pricing shapes job boards and recruitment platforms’ growth, branding, and budgeting. Managing multiple domains can quickly increase costs. Domain costs can escalate quickly, impacting budgets, branding, and long-term multi-domain recruitment platform strategy decisions.
(.. find out more)
Job Market Reports and Trends
Key points:
The unemployment rate climbed to 5.2%, its highest level in nearly five years.
Youth unemployment continues to climb, now standing at 16.1%.
Wage growth continued to ease, suggesting diminishing risks of inflation persistence.
(.. find out more)
2026 Events
Join the Conversation
“Do any of you use a product to identify companies posting their jobs on generic and/or competitor sites and/or their own career pages so that you can pitch your site/database to them also?”
A thread in our Job Boards Connect Slack group! From redefining TA advertising as recruitment marketing to leveraging brand-boosting content for stronger employer appeal, industry pros are sharing fresh strategies. Don’t miss out – join the community and add your voice!
Already a member? Click here to jump in!
New to the Slack community? Join here!