Majority of UK workers happy for AI to be used in hiring

A new survey looking into public perception of using Artificial Intelligence in the workplace has revealed an enthusiastic but uncertain response.

The Totaljobs report asked 2,002 UK workers to share their thoughts on AI’s impact on their working lives and how they feel about how it is used in the hiring process.

Of those surveyed, 54% believe that AI will help to cut down manual tasks, 56% agree it will empower them to learn new skills and 46% say it will enhance productivity.

However, 44% said they are concerned that AI will increase existing inequality and biases in the workplace with another 46% believing it will eventually make their job roles obsolete.

Looking at AI’s involvement when it comes to recruitment, the majority (88%) of workers say they’re happy for it to be used in the hiring process, but draw the line when it comes to replacing human decision-making.

As many as 72% believe that it should be mandatory for businesses to disclose when they are using AI in the recruitment process.

Sebastian Dettmers, Global CEO of The StepStone Group, commented on the findings, “Artificial Intelligence has unleashed a revolution across industries, but it is the advent Conversational AI that truly democratises its power, especially in the realm of job searches and recruitment.

“These ground-breaking tools not only streamline repetitive tasks but also open doors for individuals to tap into AI’s vast potential. However, as excitement grows, so does the fear of its being replaced among workers. To counter the great people-shortage, employers must therefore ensure that their people are educated and upskilled to be ready for the future.

“Employers and recruiters must take the lead in addressing concerns about AI. Ensuring transparency and clear communication about how they leverage this technology to enhance the recruitment process is vital, as well as offering existing employees the training and development need to harness this new technology to progress their own careers.”

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