A survey commissioned by the Institute of Job Aggregation (IJA) has revealed growing concerns among job seekers regarding the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the recruitment process. Nearly half (48 per cent) of respondents reported seeing an increase in fake job advertisements since AI tools have become more prevalent. In comparison, an overwhelming 90 per cent expressed a lack of trust in AI to manage recruitment processes fairly.
These findings highlight significant challenges for the recruitment industry as technological advancements like AI, bots, and automated systems reshape job search traffic globally. In response, the IJA is taking proactive steps to address these issues and support industry stakeholders, including job aggregators, job boards, recruiters, and job seekers.
The institute has identified key threats to future job traffic, which include bot traffic inflating job views and creating fake listings, making it harder for genuine job seekers to find opportunities and AI-driven applicant tracking systems may unintentionally introduce bias while fake job listings and stolen identities present growing risks for personal data theft and financial fraud. Rapid technological advancements like AI are also contributing to a growing skills mismatch between job seekers and employer demands.
“The results of our survey clearly show that job seekers are feeling the negative impacts of AI-driven technologies in the recruitment process,” says Mike Wall, Chair of the IJA. “We are seeing an increase in fake job ads and concern about AI’s role in hiring decisions. Addressing these issues will require collaboration among industry leaders, regulatory frameworks, and advanced technological solutions.”
As AI becomes more integrated into recruitment, the IJA is focused on offering guidance and support to the industry to better understand where job search traffic is coming from and how to manage the influx of automated activity. By promoting best practices and offering expert advice, the IJA aims to reduce the negative impacts of AI-driven recruitment while fostering trust and transparency in the job market.