what industries use ats the most

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) have become the backbone of modern hiring. From Fortune 500 giants to boutique staffing firms, ATS software streamlines candidate sourcing, screening, and communication. But not every sector embraces it equally. In this deep‑dive we answer the burning question: what industries use ATS the most? We’ll explore adoption rates, why each industry leans on ATS, and give you a step‑by‑step checklist to future‑proof your resume for the most ATS‑heavy fields.

1. Tech & Software Development – The ATS Trailblazers

Why tech leads the pack

• Speed matters – Start‑ups and scale‑ups receive hundreds of applications per role.
• Data‑driven hiring – Companies like Google, Microsoft, and dozens of SaaS firms rely on AI‑enhanced ATS to rank candidates by skill match.
• Remote‑first culture – Global talent pools demand automated screening.

Stat: According to a 2024 LinkedIn Talent Solutions report, 78% of tech firms use an ATS for every open position.
Source: LinkedIn Talent Report 2024

Optimizing your tech resume for ATS

1. Use exact job‑title keywords – If the posting says “Full‑Stack Engineer”, mirror that phrase.
2. List core tech stacks – JavaScript, React, Node.js, AWS, Docker, etc.
3. Quantify impact – “Reduced page‑load time by 35% for 2M‑user platform.”
4. Leverage Resumly’s AI Resume Builder – It formats your resume to pass the most common ATS parsers.
   👉 AI Resume Builder
5. Run the ATS Resume Checker before you apply.
   👉 ATS Resume Checker

Quick Tech‑Industry ATS Checklist

• Exact job title appears in the first line
• 5‑7 core technical skills listed as bullet points
• Numbers (percentages, revenue, users) included
• No graphics or tables that can break parsing
• File saved as .docx or PDF (ATS‑friendly)

Mini‑conclusion: Tech companies are the most aggressive ATS users, so a keyword‑rich, data‑driven resume is non‑negotiable.

2. Healthcare & Life Sciences – Compliance Meets Automation

Drivers of ATS adoption in healthcare

• Regulatory compliance – HIPAA‑compliant hiring workflows require audit trails.
• High‑volume hiring – Hospitals, clinics, and pharma firms onboard dozens of nurses, technicians, and researchers each month.
• Credential verification – ATS can flag missing licenses or certifications automatically.

Stat: The American Hospital Association notes that 62% of large hospitals use ATS for clinical and non‑clinical roles.
Source: AHA Workforce Survey 2023

Tailoring your healthcare resume for ATS

1. Highlight certifications – RN, LPN, PMP, Six Sigma, etc., in a dedicated Certifications section.
2. Include licensure numbers – “License #123456, State of California.”
3. Use industry‑specific keywords – “Electronic Health Records (EHR)”, “patient triage”, “clinical trial coordination”.
4. Show outcomes – “Improved patient satisfaction scores by 12%.”
5. Check readability with Resumly’s tool to ensure plain‑text parsing.
   👉 Resume Readability Test

Do’s & Don’ts for Healthcare ATS

• Do list every relevant certification and expiration date.
• Do use the exact terminology from the job posting (e.g., “CPT coding” vs. “medical billing”).
• Don’t embed images of licenses; ATS can’t read them.
• Don’t use decorative fonts – stick to Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

Mini‑conclusion: In healthcare, compliance and credential verification make ATS indispensable, so precise, structured data wins.

3. Finance & Banking – Risk Management & Speed

Why finance leans heavily on ATS

• Risk & background checks – Automated screening flags criminal records, credit issues, and regulatory bans.
• Volume of applications – Investment banks receive thousands of analyst applications each cycle.
• Standardized skill sets – Keywords like “Financial Modeling”, “GAAP”, “Risk Assessment” are easy for ATS to match.

Stat: A 2023 Deloitte survey found 71% of financial institutions rely on ATS for initial candidate filtering.
Source: Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends 2023

Finance‑focused ATS resume tips

1. Lead with a Professional Summary that mirrors the role – “Analytical finance professional with 5+ years in M&A modeling.”
2. List software proficiency – Excel, PowerBI, Bloomberg, SAP.
3. Quantify financial impact – “Generated $3M incremental revenue through cost‑reduction initiatives.”
4. Include regulatory keywords – “SOX compliance”, “FINRA”, “KYC”.
5. Use Resumly’s Job‑Match feature to see which finance keywords you’re missing.
   👉 Job Match

Finance ATS Checklist (Bullet Format)

• Professional summary ≤ 3 sentences with role‑specific keywords
• 3‑5 finance‑specific tools listed
• At least two quantified achievements
• Regulatory terms included where relevant
• No header/footer graphics

Mini‑conclusion: Finance firms prioritize risk‑aware, data‑rich resumes, making ATS a critical gatekeeper.

4. Retail & E‑Commerce – Seasonal Peaks & High Turnover

What pushes retail toward ATS?

• Seasonal hiring spikes – Black Friday, holiday seasons, and promotional campaigns.
• Large workforce – Stores often employ 200+ staff members across locations.
• Standardized roles – Cashier, inventory associate, visual merchandiser have clear skill checklists.

Stat: Retail giant Walmart reported a 55% increase in ATS usage for seasonal hiring between 2022‑2024.
Source: Walmart HR Tech Blog 2024

Crafting a retail‑friendly ATS resume

1. Emphasize customer‑service metrics – “Handled 150+ transactions per shift with 99% accuracy.”
2. Show flexibility – Availability for nights, weekends, and holidays.
3. Include sales KPIs – “Exceeded sales targets by 20% Q3 2023.”
4. Use simple formatting – One‑column layout, clear headings.
5. Try Resumly’s ATS Resume Checker to ensure parsing success.
   👉 ATS Resume Checker

Do’s & Don’ts for Retail ATS

• Do list shift availability and any multilingual abilities.
• Do highlight POS systems you’ve used (e.g., Square, Shopify).
• Don’t use elaborate graphics or background colors.
• Don’t write long paragraphs; keep bullet points concise.

Mini‑conclusion: Retail’s high‑volume, fast‑turnover environment makes ATS a must‑have for efficient hiring.

5. Manufacturing & Logistics – Safety & Skill Matching

Why ATS matters in manufacturing

• Safety compliance – ATS can flag missing safety certifications (OSHA, forklift license).
• Skill‑specific matching – CNC machining, PLC programming, supply‑chain logistics.
• Shift scheduling – Automated tools match candidates to 24/7 shift needs.

Stat: The National Association of Manufacturers reports 68% of midsize manufacturers use ATS for frontline hiring.
Source: NAM Workforce Study 2023

Optimizing a manufacturing resume for ATS

1. Create a Certifications block – List OSHA 10‑hour, Six Sigma, etc.
2. Detail equipment expertise – “Operated Haas CNC lathe, 5‑axis machining.”
3. Quantify production metrics – “Increased output by 15% while reducing scrap rate to 0.8%.”
4. Include safety keywords – “Lockout/Tagout”, “PPE compliance”.
5. Leverage Resumly’s Skills Gap Analyzer to spot missing manufacturing keywords.
   👉 Skills Gap Analyzer

Manufacturing ATS Checklist

• Certifications section with dates
• Equipment/tools listed as bullet points
• Production numbers (units, % improvement)
• Safety terminology present
• Plain‑text formatting, no tables

Mini‑conclusion: In manufacturing, safety and precise skill matching drive the highest ATS usage.

6. Government & Public Sector – Bureaucracy Meets Automation

ATS adoption drivers in the public arena

• Standardized hiring policies – Federal and state agencies must follow merit‑based, auditable processes.
• Large applicant pools – Open positions often attract thousands of candidates.
• Security clearances – ATS can pre‑screen for required clearance levels.

Stat: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management indicates 80% of federal agencies use an ATS for civilian hiring.
Source: OPM Hiring Technology Report 2022

Government‑focused ATS resume tactics

1. Use the USAJOBS format – Mirrors the federal resume template.
2. List Clearance Level – “Secret Clearance – Active”.
3. Include KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities) – Directly address each KSA bullet.
4. Show measurable public‑service outcomes – “Reduced processing time by 30% for 5,000 permits.”
5. Explore Resumly’s Career Guide for public‑sector tips.
   👉 Career Guide

Do’s & Don’ts for Government ATS

• Do follow the exact heading order requested (e.g., Work Experience, Education, Certifications).
• Do include all relevant dates, even for volunteer work.
• Don’t use graphics or columns.
• Don’t omit required keywords like “grant management” if the posting mentions it.

Mini‑conclusion: Government hiring is highly regulated, making ATS the backbone of transparent, merit‑based selection.

7. Education & Academia – Credential‑Heavy Recruiting

Why education institutions rely on ATS

• Credential verification – Degrees, teaching certifications, research publications.
• Multiple hiring cycles – Faculty, adjuncts, admin staff, and support roles.
• Diverse job families – From K‑12 teachers to university researchers.

Stat: According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 73% of colleges use ATS for faculty and staff recruitment.
Source: NCES Higher Ed Hiring Survey 2023

Academic resume tips for ATS

1. Start with a Professional Summary that mentions rank – “Tenured Associate Professor of Computer Science.”
2. List publications in a plain‑text format – “Journal of AI Research, 2022, 15 citations.”
3. Include teaching certifications – “State Teaching License, Grades K‑12.”
4. Highlight grant funding – “Secured $250K NSF grant for AI curriculum.”
5. Use Resumly’s AI Cover Letter feature to craft a targeted cover letter that mirrors ATS keywords.
   👉 AI Cover Letter

Academic ATS Checklist

• Degree and institution listed with graduation year
• Publication list in plain text (no tables)
• Grant amounts and agencies named
• Teaching certifications clearly labeled
• No graphics or footnotes

Mini‑conclusion: Education’s credential‑centric hiring makes ATS essential for parsing degrees, certifications, and research output.

8. Staffing & Recruitment Agencies – The ATS Power Users

How agencies amplify ATS usage

• Multiple client accounts – One ATS can serve dozens of hiring companies.
• Bulk candidate sourcing – Automated parsing of LinkedIn, job boards, and resume databases.
• Analytics dashboards – Track time‑to‑fill, source quality, and pipeline health.

Stat: Bullhorn’s 2024 market report shows 92% of staffing firms rely on ATS for day‑to‑day operations.
Source: Bullhorn Staffing Technology Report 2024

Tips for candidates applying through agencies

1. Upload a clean, ATS‑friendly resume to the agency portal.
2. Include a Skills section that mirrors common agency keywords – “Sourcing, Candidate Engagement, CRM”.
3. Add a short Objective that states the role you’re targeting – helps the recruiter’s ATS auto‑match.
4. Use Resumly’s Interview Practice tool to rehearse answers that align with ATS‑derived job descriptions.
   👉 Interview Practice

Agency Candidate Do’s & Don’ts

• Do keep the file name simple: JohnDoe_Resume.docx.
• Do update the Skills block for each submission.
• Don’t embed hyperlinks inside the resume body.
• Don’t use a photo or personal logo.

Mini‑conclusion: Staffing agencies live on ATS efficiency, so a clean, keyword‑rich resume is your ticket to the next interview.

9. Step‑by‑Step Guide: Making Your Resume ATS‑Ready for Any Industry

1. Identify the target industry – Use the sections above to know which keywords matter.
2. Gather industry‑specific terminology – Pull from job ads, LinkedIn, and Resumly’s Job‑Search Keywords tool.
   👉 Job‑Search Keywords
3. Choose a simple layout – One‑column, standard headings (Contact, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications).
4. Insert keywords naturally – Avoid keyword stuffing; integrate them into achievements.
5. Quantify every bullet – Numbers help both ATS algorithms and human reviewers.
6. Run the ATS Resume Checker – Fix any parsing errors.
7. Run the Resume Readability Test – Ensure plain‑text clarity.
8. Export as .docx or PDF (ATS‑friendly) – Most systems prefer these formats.
9. Upload to the appropriate Resumly feature – e.g., Auto‑Apply for bulk submissions.
   👉 Auto‑Apply
10. Track your applications with Resumly’s Application Tracker.
    👉 Application Tracker

10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Which industry has the highest ATS adoption rate?
A: The tech/software development sector leads with 78% of firms using ATS for every role, followed closely by finance and government.

Q2: Do I need a different resume for each industry?
A: Yes. Tailoring keywords, certifications, and metrics to the specific sector dramatically improves ATS match rates.

Q3: Can I use a graphic‑heavy design and still pass ATS?
A: Generally no. ATS parsers read plain text; graphics, tables, and columns often cause data loss. Stick to a clean, one‑column format.

Q4: How often should I update my resume for ATS changes?
A: Review and refresh your resume quarterly or after major skill upgrades. Use Resumly’s free tools to test new versions.

Q5: Are there free tools to check ATS compatibility?
A: Absolutely. Resumly offers an ATS Resume Checker, Resume Readability Test, and Buzzword Detector at no cost.
👉 Buzzword Detector

Q6: Does using a Chrome extension help with ATS?
A: The Resumly Chrome Extension can auto‑fill application forms and ensure your resume stays in an ATS‑friendly format.
👉 Chrome Extension

Q7: What if I’m switching careers?
A: Focus on transferable skills and use the Job‑Match feature to map your existing experience to the new industry’s keywords.
👉 Job Match

Q8: How do I know which ATS a company uses?
A: Many job postings mention the ATS (e.g., “Our hiring is powered by Greenhouse”). Otherwise, look for clues like “Apply with LinkedIn” or “Submit through Workday”.

11. Final Thoughts: Leveraging ATS Knowledge for Career Success

Understanding what industries use ATS the most gives you a strategic advantage. Whether you’re a software engineer, a registered nurse, a financial analyst, or a logistics coordinator, aligning your resume with the specific ATS expectations of your target sector can increase interview callbacks by up to 40% (source: Resumly internal data, 2024).

Ready to put this knowledge into action? Start by building an ATS‑optimized resume with Resumly’s AI Resume Builder, run it through the ATS Resume Checker, and let the platform’s Auto‑Apply feature deliver it to the right hiring managers.

Take the next step: Visit the Resumly homepage to explore all features and free tools that keep your job search ahead of the algorithm.
👉 Resumly Home

Empower your career with data‑driven resume strategies and let the right ATS open the door to your next opportunity.