Boomerang Hiring Surges in 2025: ADP Data Shows 35% of New Hires Are Returning Employees

Key Points

• Research suggests more workers are returning to former employers, known as boomerang employees, amid job market uncertainties.

• It seems likely that in March 2025, 35% of new hires were boomerang employees, up from 31% the previous year, per ADP data.

• The evidence leans toward employers valuing familiarity for efficiency, while workers seek stability, especially in the information sector.

• There’s also a trend of federal agencies rehiring experienced workers laid off earlier, contributing to the rise.

Background

This trend reflects a growing preference for rehiring former employees, driven by both employer caution and worker preferences in a cautious labor market.

Statistics and Trends

According to ADP, boomerang employees made up 35% of new hires in March 2025, a notable increase from 31% in March 2024. This rise is particularly strong in the information sector, where nearly two-thirds of new hires were returning employees. Since 2018, boomerang hires have averaged 31% of new hires, but the recent spike suggests a shift toward rehiring known talent.

Reasons and Context

Employers benefit from lower onboarding costs and familiarity, while workers may prefer returning to known environments amid economic uncertainty. The trend is also seen in federal agencies rehiring experienced workers previously laid off, adding to the overall increase.

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Comprehensive Analysis of the Trend of Workers Returning to Former Employers

Introduction

The phrase "More workers are getting back together with their ex — employer, that is" highlights a growing trend in the job market where employees, known as boomerang employees, return to work for their previous employers. As of June 21, 2025, recent data and analyses indicate a significant rise in this phenomenon, driven by economic uncertainties and strategic hiring practices. This report synthesizes information from payroll data, news articles, and expert insights to provide a detailed understanding of why this trend is occurring and its implications.

Background on Boomerang Employees

Boomerang employees are individuals who leave a company and then return to work there again, often after a period of employment elsewhere or a break. This concept has gained traction in recent years, particularly as the job market has cooled and both employers and employees seek stability. The term "boomerang" reflects the idea of returning to a familiar place, and it’s become a notable strategy in human resources for filling vacancies efficiently.

Current Statistics and Trends

Recent data from ADP, a leading payroll provider, shows a marked increase in boomerang hiring. In March 2025, boomerang employees accounted for 35% of all new hires, up from 31% in March 2024 and significantly higher than the 27% recorded in 2018 Boomerang hiring makes a comeback - ADP Research. This represents the highest percentage for that month tracked by ADP since at least 2018, indicating a persistent and growing trend.

The increase is broad-based across industries, but the information sector, which includes telecommunications, broadcasting, publishing, computer programming, and software development, stands out. In March 2025, nearly two-thirds (approximately 66.67%) of new hires in this sector were returning employees, a two-fold increase from the same time a year ago In an impossible job market, boomerang hires are on the rise. Over the last 12 months, boomerang hires in the information sector averaged 45%, compared to 30% since 2018, highlighting a sector-specific surge Boomerang Employee Strategy Powers HR Retention in 2025.

Historically, boomerang employees have made up only 2% of all active employees since 2018, but they consistently account for nearly one-third of new hires on average, underscoring their importance in hiring strategies Boomerang hiring makes a comeback - ADP Research. The trend saw a dip during the Great Resignation in March 2022, when boomerang hires hit a low of 26%, as workers were lured by lucrative compensation packages elsewhere Boomerang Employee Strategy Powers HR Retention in 2025. However, since then, the trend has reversed, with a steady rise driven by changing market dynamics.

Reasons Behind the Trend

Several factors contribute to the rise in boomerang employees, as explained by experts and supported by market conditions. Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist, noted, “The trend of workers returning to previous employers is continuing. It’s persistent” More workers are getting back together with their ex — employer, that is. She added, “For employers, there’s a lot of uncertainty and caution in the labor market, which is showing up in the increase in boomerang hires. Employers are trying to get as much efficiency from their workforce as possible” Boomerang employees made up 35% of all new hires in March, per ADP data.

Employers benefit from hiring boomerang employees because they are already familiar with the company culture, processes, and expectations, reducing onboarding time and costs. Richardson emphasized, “They know the worker, the worker knows them,” highlighting the mutual familiarity More workers are getting back together with their ex — employer, that is. This is particularly valuable in a cooling labor market where hiring new employees can be risky due to skill mismatches or cultural fit issues.

For workers, returning to a former employer offers stability and familiarity, especially in an uncertain job market. The Business Insider article notes, “Job seekers are facing a grueling search for new gigs. It’s taking longer for people to get hired, big company names like Walmart have announced layoffs, and some people are willing to take any job they can find or accept lower pay” If you're quitting a job or anticipating layoffs, don't burn your bridges at work. Boomerang hires are increasing.. Returning to a known employer can be a safer bet, especially with lower residential mobility suggesting workers are less inclined to move for new opportunities Boomerang hiring makes a comeback - ADP Research.

Specific Context: Federal Sector

The trend is amplified in the federal sector, where there’s a specific effort to rehire experienced workers who were previously laid off. The Yahoo Finance article mentions, “The boomerang trend is even bigger if you count federal employees returning to their former jobs. Trump administration officials across the government are scrambling to rehire experienced workers who were forced out this spring under DOGE’s staff-slashing initiative” More workers are getting back together with their ex — employer, that is. While “DOGE” might be a fictional or placeholder term in this context, it suggests a policy-driven rehiring effort to regain lost expertise and stabilize operations, contributing to the overall rise in boomerang hires.

Comparative Analysis

To better understand the scope of this trend, consider the following table comparing key statistics across different periods and sectors:

Metric	March 2025	March 2024	March 2022 (Low Point)	Since 2018 Average	Information Sector (March 2025)
Boomerang Employees (% of New Hires)	35%	31%	26%	31%	Nearly 66.67%
Total Active Employees (% Boomerang)	2%	-	-	2%	-
Information Sector Average (Last 12 Months)	-	-	-	30%	45%

This table highlights the significant increase in boomerang hires, particularly in the information sector, and the consistency of their proportion relative to new hires over time.

Implications and Interpretation

The rise in boomerang employees has several implications for both employers and workers. For employers, it suggests a shift toward leveraging existing talent pools to mitigate hiring risks, especially in sectors like information technology where skill shortages are acute. For workers, it offers a pathway to re-enter the workforce with reduced uncertainty, potentially impacting long-term loyalty and retention strategies.

However, there may be risks, such as potential negative attitudes if employees return after leaving for dissatisfaction, though the articles suggest companies are focusing on rehiring those who left on good terms. The Harvard Business Review article “The promise and risk of boomerang employees” from 2023, referenced in the ADP summary, likely discusses these dynamics, but the current data leans toward a positive trend The Ultimate Guide to Rehiring a Former Employee.

The trend also reflects broader economic conditions, with initial jobless claims near historical lows and unemployment hovering just above 4%, suggesting a stable but cautious market ADP National Employment Report: 37K Private Jobs Added in May. This stability, combined with slower hiring momentum, makes rehiring former employees an attractive strategy ADP jobs report May 2025.

Conclusion

In summary, the trend of workers returning to their former employers, or boomerang employees, is on the rise in 2025, with 35% of new hires in March being returning employees, up from 31% the previous year. This is particularly evident in the information sector and includes federal agencies rehiring laid-off workers. Driven by employer caution, efficiency gains, and worker preferences for stability, this trend reflects the current dynamics of a cautious job market seeking familiarity and reduced risk.

Key Citations

• Boomerang hiring makes a comeback ADP Research

• More workers are getting back together with their ex employer that is Yahoo Finance

• Boomerang employees made up 35 percent of all new hires in March per ADP data HR Brew

• In an impossible job market boomerang hires are on the rise CNBC

• Boomerang Employee Strategy Powers HR Retention in 2025 HR Morning

• If you're quitting a job or anticipating layoffs don't burn your bridges at work Boomerang hires are increasing Business Insider

• ADP National Employment Report 37K Private Jobs Added in May Advisor Perspectives

• ADP jobs report May 2025 CNBC

• The Ultimate Guide to Rehiring a Former Employee Indeed

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