Professionals warn AI is making recruitment too impersonal.
Three out of four job seekers believe artificial intelligence is unfairly screening out their applications, according to new research that highlights growing unease over automation in hiring.
The inaugural Collins McNicholas Workforce Insights Report, based on responses from more than 2,500 professionals, found that 75% agreed or strongly agreed that AI could be excluding them unfairly. Only 5% strongly disagreed.
“This report is a warning shot that we need to be careful about how we are implementing AI and where we are inserting that into the process”
The survey, conducted between October 7 and October 21, reveals a strong preference for human involvement in recruitment. Almost three-quarters of respondents said automated rejection emails felt impersonal and dismissive, while 69% said a lack of human interaction made them less interested in working for a company.
A delicate balancing act
Michelle Murphy, Director at Collins McNicholas, said employers face a delicate balancing act. “The findings show that employers face a huge challenge in balancing the use of AI and automation to speed up their recruitment process while ensuring that applicants feel they are being treated equally and receiving that human touch they clearly want,” she said.
“This report is a warning shot that we need to be careful about how we are implementing AI and where we are inserting that into the process.”
When asked for advice to employers using AI, 54% of respondents urged companies to “keep a human touch in the process.” Other suggestions included limiting automation to certain stages (16%) and improving communication and feedback (14%). Nearly half of those surveyed disagreed that automated messages made recruitment more efficient.
The report also explored broader workplace trends. Career progression (27%) and company culture (24%) emerged as the top non-monetary priorities for job seekers, ahead of remote work options (23%) and flexible hours (19%). Despite speculation about a return to the office, 59% said their employer had not changed hybrid or remote work policies this year. Of those who had, most now work in the office three days a week.
Concerns about career advancement under hybrid models appear limited. A majority (51%) disagreed that remote or hybrid work negatively affects promotion prospects. Only 4% strongly agreed.
Communication remains the biggest frustration in recruitment, cited by 39% of respondents, followed by lengthy hiring timelines (19%) and impersonal automated responses (14%). Company reputation also matters: 71% said they research employers extensively or via social media before applying.
Top image: Mary Mullin, Associate Director, Collins McNicholas and Michelle Murphy, Director, Collins McNicholas. Photo: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce.
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