Business Insider featured Revelio Labs workforce data in its reporting on the rise of “boomerang” employees, workers who return to a former employer. Revelio Labs data shows that by the end of 2025, 3.4% of new hires in the US were former employees, up from 3.1% two years earlier.
In the article, “You got laid off. Now your boss wants you back,” reporters Sarah E. Needleman and Tim Paradis examine how companies including Amazon are recruiting former employees as businesses rethink staffing decisions and adapt to changes brought by AI.
Read the full Business Insider article here.
Boomerang hiring is becoming more common
Revelio Labs data provides a broader view of the trend beyond individual companies. The share of US new hires returning to a previous employer increased from 3.1% in 2023 to 3.4% by the end of 2025.
Business Insider highlights several reasons companies may turn to former employees. Returning workers already understand the organization, its processes, and its people, potentially reducing some of the time required to get up to speed.
The article also examines the trend in the context of AI-related workforce changes. Some companies are reconsidering earlier staffing decisions as they determine where AI can replace tasks and where human expertise remains important.
Revelio Labs provides workforce intelligence built from billions of public employment records, giving investors, corporate strategists, HR teams, researchers, and governments a detailed view of hiring, headcount, compensation, skills, and other labor market trends.
Read the full Business Insider article to learn more about the rise of boomerang hiring and why companies are bringing former employees back.
Read the article: https://www.businessinsider.com/boomerang-hiring-old-job-wants-back-amazon-2026-9
FAQ
What is a boomerang employee?
A boomerang employee is someone who leaves an organization and later returns to work for the same employer.
How common are boomerang hires in the US?
Revelio Labs data shows that former employees accounted for 3.4% of new hires in the US by the end of 2025, compared with 3.1% two years earlier.
What does Revelio Labs measure?
Revelio Labs provides standardized workforce data covering areas including employment, job postings, hiring, compensation, skills, company headcount, and employee sentiment.