hiring freeze
Business and HR term for a temporary suspension of new hiring, often during cost-cutting or restructuring.
Due to the recession, the company announced a hiring freeze.
During the hiring freeze, no new recruitment takes place at all.
採用 is the general act of hiring or adopting; 雇用凍結 specifically refers to the suspension of hiring.
リストラ (restructuring) often involves layoffs, while 雇用凍結 is a milder measure that stops new hires without necessarily cutting existing staff.
Compound of 雇用 (employment) and 凍結 (freezing), literally 'employment freeze'.