The New Reality of Hiring: AI Is Now Part of the Process

New research from Paylocity finds that 91% of surveyed HR and recruitment leaders already use AI somewhere in recruiting, while 91% say the technology has become essential for managing today’s application volumes.

And those volumes are enormous. Separate research from Ashby found that applications per hire tripled from 2021 through 2024 and remained above 300 throughout 2025.

Candidates are using AI to find jobs, customize resumes and generate applications. Employers are responding with AI tools to screen, rank and manage those applicants. The result is an emerging AI hiring arms race.

On this episode of the Workplace Minute, Steve looks at why employers increasingly feel forced to automate parts of recruiting, what job seekers need to understand about this new environment, and how organizations can use AI while still creating a hiring experience that is fair, transparent, inclusive and humane.