Study: Half of HR Execs Using AI to Hire Top Talent

AI is becoming a fixture in the modern hiring process, according to new research from Ipsos and Google. As per the findings, half of HR executives are finding value in using AI tools to match, screen, and rank applicants, with a further 47% using it to identify skills gaps.

On the other side of the coin, prospective employees are leveraging AI to aid with their job searches, while at the same time improving their own proficiency with the technology. The study indicates that nearly 7 in 10 job seekers are currently using the technology.

Ultimately, the research shows that companies are being more careful than ever to avoid hiring mistakes, with the costs of making the wrong choice increasingly unsustainable for businesses in 2025. At the same time, job seekers are putting their faith in AI to overcome skills gaps and identify viable positions to further their careers.

Nearly Half of HR Execs Use AI to Screen Candidates, Says Report

Increasingly, HR executives are using AI in the recruitment process in a bid to avoid costly hiring errors, according to new research from Ipsos and Google. The report, titled Future-proofing careers in the age of AI: Insights for hiring, learning, and growth, surveyed 1,000 US job seekers and 500 HR executives between June and July 2025.

It was found that half of execs are using AI to match, screen, and rank applicants, with a further 47% using it to identify skills gaps. With 60% of HR execs noting a mismatch between applicant skills and employer needs, avoiding hiring mistakes would seem to be high on the agenda for businesses in 2025.

Applicants, meanwhile, are using the technology as both “tool and teacher,” integrating it into their job hunting efforts and improving their own AI skills at the same time. There is a growing belief that AI proficiency is table stakes for employees in the modern workplace, and applicants are honing their skills to try and stay competitive.

Report Illuminates Modern Hiring Crisis

Hiring managers are increasingly turning to AI to counteract a yawning skills gap between applicants and businesses. According to the study, nearly half of respondents (48%) believe that most applicants are underqualified for the positions that they’re applying for. Specialized fields, such as technology and healthcare, are bearing the brunt of this issue.

Not only are HR execs using AI to identify top candidates, but they’re increasingly looking towards more experienced professionals. Nearly two-thirds (64%) are turning to mid-career professionals, while an added 43% are targeting specialized roles.

The vetting process is becoming more rigid, too. The study finds that nearly half (49%) of hiring managers have begun to introduce formal skill assessments to the hiring process, including technical tests, job simulations, and cultural fit evaluations.

AI Solidifying Status as Workplace Mainstay

Everywhere you look, the evidence grows that AI is no longer a nice to-have — it’s fundamentally reshaping the modern workplace. Recently, it was revealed that the number of employees skipping meetings due to AI was growing, with as many as 29% of workers admitting to truancy in the belief that AI tools would fill in the gaps.

Elsewhere, AI-related layoffs continue apace, with many companies letting go of employees in favor of automation. This trend will likely only become more pronounced as AI models improve and demonstrate new and compelling use cases.

This poses both a challenge and an opportunity to workers everywhere. While some entry-level roles can expect to feel the squeeze, employees should embrace the possibilities of this burgeoning technology, which can serve as an invaluable tool in helping people to carry out their day-to-day tasks.