In 2013, 50% of HR managers were saying that hiring was a problem.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, that percentage has now increased to 68. As you may already know, we’re in one of the toughest hiring markets of all time, with various indicators, like time to hire, at all-time highs.

So, is this the time to start thinking about polishing up your employer brand, or is it best to focus on getting those positions filled, and saving branding for the day (hopefully someday) when hiring gets a little easier?

Here are some numbers to think about. Companies with positive brand reputations get 2x as many applicants as companies with poor brand reputations. On top of that, companies with bad reputations spend 10% more per hire – which adds up with each hire. And, 50% of applicants in one survey said they wouldn’t work for a company with a bad reputation, even if offered better pay.

The other thing to think about with employer branding is that it’s not necessarily a choice anymore. Social media gave employees a big megaphone to influence, or in a total vacuum, create your employer brand. If you’re not actively working to influence it, it’s not like you don’t have a brand, it’s just that you’re letting everyone else control the conversation.

Interested in learning more about employer branding, and what you can do to get it under control?Check out this employer branding infographic from Betterteam, with more stats and advice from 10 HR/branding experts, including TalentCulture’s Cyndy Trivella

Ok, we hope that helped you get a better idea for the state of employer branding, and some of the things you can do to make it work for your company. Learn more about what great employer branding can do to help you attract the right talent pool.

photo credit: Fiat’s lead brand agency, IMPATTO creates new advertising campaign ‘Simply More’ via photopin (license)