---
title: "AI in HR and Recruiting Statistics 2026: Use, Trust and Rules"
date: 2026-10-20
author: "Supriya Gharat"
featured_image: "https://xtendedview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ai-hr-recruiting-statistics-use-trust-rules-3.jpg"
categories:
  - name: "Artificial Intelligence"
    url: "/category/ai.md"
tags:
  - name: "Statistics"
    url: "/tag/statistics.md"
---

# AI in HR and Recruiting Statistics 2026: Use, Trust and Rules

Just **39%** of organizations have implemented AI in their HR functions, with another **7%** planning to do so this year, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Where AI is being used, adoption is concentrated in recruiting (**27%**), HR technology (**21%**), and learning and development (**17%**). SHRM’s data draws on insights from **1,908** HR professionals. These AI in HR and recruiting statistics cover both sides of the hire: employer adoption, candidate trust, AI interviews, fraud and the rules now attached to hiring tools.

Job candidates read the same tools very differently. Only one-quarter (**26%**) of job candidates trust AI will fairly evaluate them, according to a 1Q25 Gartner survey of **2,918** job candidates. Among US job seekers, nearly two-thirds (**63%**) have now been interviewed by an AI, according to the Greenhouse 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report.

## Key Takeaways

- **56%** of HR functions do not formally measure the success of their AI investments, and only **16%** use return on investment (ROI) as a metric.
- Seven in every ten (**70%**) US hiring managers say AI helps them make faster and better hiring decisions, yet only **8%** of candidates believe AI makes hiring more fair.
- In Greenhouse’s 2026 survey of US job seekers, the majority of candidates (**70%**) were never clearly told upfront that AI would be evaluating them, and **57%** believe disclosure should be a legal requirement.
- **57%** of HR professionals in states with workforce-related AI regulations are not aware of those rules.
- New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) surveyed websites and bias audits of **32** companies and identified just a single issue of non-compliance, while state auditors identified at least **17** instances of potential non-compliance at the same companies.
- EU rules for high-risk AI systems in Annex III, which covers AI used for recruitment, apply starting **December 2, 2027**.
- **57%** of organizations are seeing increased upskilling and reskilling opportunities from AI, while just **7%** report job displacement.

## Editor’s Choice

- Organizations using AI in their HR functions: **39%**.
- Large organizations’ AI adoption: **60%** at organizations with **5,000+** employees.
- Job candidates who used AI to apply: **39%** in a 4Q24 Gartner survey.
- US recruiters who have spotted candidate deception: **91%**.
- HR professionals reporting improved efficiency from AI: **87%**.
- US job seekers who walked away from a hiring process over an AI interview: **38%**.
- Workday total revenues, fiscal 2026: **$9.552 billion**, an increase of **13.1%** from fiscal 2025.

## AI in HR and Recruiting Statistics: How Many Organizations Use AI

- Just **39%** of organizations have implemented AI in their HR functions, with another **7%** planning to do so this year.
- Another **23%** of organizations are deploying AI elsewhere in the business, which leaves roughly one-third with no AI adoption.
- Large organizations (**5,000+** employees) lead with **60%** adoption, while smaller organizations lag significantly, often constrained by cost, talent, and uncertainty around return on investment.
- By 2025, **73%** of HR directors and above were using AI in their work, compared to roughly **65%** of managers and individual contributors.
- Less than half of organizations are expected to use AI in HR this year, according to SHRM.
- **56%** of HR functions do not formally measure the success of their AI investments, and only **16%** use ROI as a metric.

| Measure (SHRM, 2026) | Base | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Using AI somewhere in the business | All organizations | 62 |
| AI adoption | Large organizations (5,000+ employees) | 60 |
| Implemented AI in HR functions | All organizations | 39 |
| No plans to launch AI initiatives | All organizations | 31 |
| Planning to implement AI in HR this year | All organizations | 7 |

*Source: SHRM, State of AI in HR 2026 research*

In total, **62%** of organizations are using [AI somewhere in the business](/ai-in-business-statistics/), signaling that HR risks lagging behind broader enterprise adoption. Nearly one-third (**31%**) have no plans to launch AI initiatives.

### How is AI used in HR?

Where it is being used, AI adoption in HR is concentrated in a few areas: recruiting, HR technology, and learning and development. Within HR, the top use case for AI or generative AI (GenAI) is talent acquisition, according to a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey of chief human resources officers (CHROs) in 2024.

### About This Data

Compiled from 17 sources: 8 company surveys and results releases, 5 government and regulator pages, and 4 research and professional body reports. Sources date from April 2023 to September 2026. Only primary publishers and named survey owners qualified; market-research sellers were excluded. Figures are reviewed on a rolling basis and updated when sources publish new editions.

## AI in Recruitment: Use in Talent Acquisition

- Where AI is being used in HR, adoption is concentrated in a few areas, including recruiting (**27%**).
- CHROs face a growing competitive divide, particularly in areas such as [recruiting and HR technology](/social-media-recruitment-statistics/), where speed and experience matter most.
- If a company is experimenting with AI or GenAI, **70%** of them are doing so within HR, according to BCG’s 2024 survey.
- Gartner predicts that by 2027, **75%** of hiring processes will include certifications and tests for workplace AI proficiency.

 SHARE OF AI USE IN HR · Source: SHRM, State of AI in HR 2026 research     SHARE OF AI USE IN HR  SHRM · 2026 AI Use by HR Area, SHRM 2026 (%)        Recruiting  27% HR technology  21% Learning and development  17%  0 7 14 21 28    SOURCE SHRM, State of AI in HR 2026 research    View the data| HR area | Share of AI use in HR (%) |
|---|---|
| Recruiting | 27 |
| HR technology | 21 |
| Learning and development | 17 |





BCG’s 2024 figures below count only companies already using AI in HR. Content creation, such as writing job descriptions, and administrative tasks, such as scheduling interviews, are the most popular use cases for AI within recruiting.

| Recruiting use case (BCG, 2024) | Companies using AI or GenAI in HR (%) |
|---|---|
| Content creation, such as job descriptions | 70 |
| Administrative tasks, such as interview scheduling | 70 |
| Candidate matching, implementing or implemented | 54 |

*Source: Boston Consulting Group survey of CHROs, 2024*

## Recent Developments

- **September 22, 2026:** Gartner published its Voice of the Candidate Survey Analysis (2Q26), covering AI in the hiring process and candidate fraud and misrepresentation.
- **August 27, 2026:** Workday reported total revenues of **$2.649 billion**, an increase of **12.8%** from the second quarter of fiscal 2026.
- **August 27, 2026:** More than **5,500** customers now use one or more of Workday’s organic agents, up more than **35%** from last quarter.
- **August 2, 2026:** The AI Act became applicable, with some exceptions, including rules for high-risk use cases in Annex III that have been extended to December 2, 2027.
- **July 27, 2026:** The [AI Omnibus](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/ai-omnibus-enters-force) entered into force across the EU, extending timelines so that rules for high-risk AI systems in Annex III apply starting December 2, 2027.

## How Recruiters and Hiring Managers Rate AI

- Seven in every ten (**70%**) hiring managers say AI helps them make faster and better hiring decisions with fewer recruiter resources.
- One in every two (**50%**) recruiters say AI has improved hiring overall, mainly by saving time on screening and scheduling.
- **25%** of recruiters admit they’re not confident in their AI systems at all.
- The vast majority of firms (**92%**) say they are already seeing the benefits, and more than **10%** report productivity gains of **+30%**, according to BCG’s 2024 survey.

 SHARE OF US RECRUITERS · Source: Greenhouse, AI in Hiring Report, November 2025     SHARE OF US RECRUITERS  Greenhouse · 2025 US Recruiter Views on AI Hiring Tools (%)         AI has improved hiring overall  50% Not confident in their AI systems at all  25% Very confident systems aren’t rejecting qualified candidates  21% No idea what their algorithms prioritize  8%  0 10 20 30 40 50    SOURCE Greenhouse, AI in Hiring Report, November 2025    View the data| Recruiter view | Share of US recruiters (%) |
|---|---|
| AI has improved hiring overall | 50 |
| Not confident in their AI systems at all | 25 |
| Very confident systems aren't rejecting qualified candidates | 21 |
| No idea what their algorithms prioritize | 8 |





> **Key finding:** Seven in every ten (**70%**) US hiring managers say AI helps them make faster and better hiring decisions, yet only **8%** of candidates believe AI makes hiring more fair, Greenhouse found. Hiring managers credit AI with faster, better decisions while few candidates see it as fairer, a gap that shows up again in the candidate figures below.

## Candidate Trust in AI Hiring

- Only one-quarter (**26%**) of job candidates trust AI will fairly evaluate them, even though just over half of candidates (**52%**) believe AI screens their application information.
- Only half of candidates trusted that the jobs they were applying for were legitimate.
- Almost one in every two (**46%**) job seekers in the US say their trust in hiring has decreased over the past year, with **42%** blaming AI directly.
- Close to one in five (**18%**) say AI has amplified bias by learning from historical patterns.
- Among US Gen-Z entry-level workers, **62%** have lost trust.

 SHARE OF JOB CANDIDATES · Source: Gartner 1Q25 survey of 2,918 job candidates, published July 2025     SHARE OF JOB CANDIDATES  Gartner · 2025 Candidate Views on AI Screening, 1Q25 (%)         Believe AI screens their application information  52% Concerned AI could fail their application  32% Trust AI will fairly evaluate them  26% Trust employers less if they use AI to evaluate them  25%  0 12 24 36 48 60    SOURCE Gartner 1Q25 survey of 2,918 job candidates, published July 2025    View the data| Candidate view (Gartner, 1Q25) | Share of job candidates (%) |
|---|---|
| Believe AI screens their application information | 52 |
| Concerned AI could fail their application | 32 |
| Trust AI will fairly evaluate them | 26 |
| Trust employers less if they use AI to evaluate them | 25 |





Gartner’s candidate survey dates from early 2025, so it predates the newer Greenhouse interview data later on this page.

### Do job candidates trust AI in hiring?

About a quarter say they do. Only **26%** of job candidates trust AI will fairly evaluate them, and **25%** said they trust employers less if they are using AI to evaluate their information, per Gartner. In Greenhouse’s data, only **8%** of candidates believe AI makes hiring more fair.

## What Candidates Want From AI Hiring

- Only **19%** want less AI in hiring; the majority want the same or more, but with guardrails.
- The guardrails job seekers want include the option to request a human interview instead (**46%**) and upfront disclosure (**44%**).
- Candidates report nearly identical rates of perceived bias from AI and human interviewers: **36%** felt age bias from both, and **27%** flagged race or ethnicity bias from both.
- Only **21%** believe most employers are using AI responsibly.

 SHARE OF US JOB SEEKERS · Source: Greenhouse 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report     SHARE OF US JOB SEEKERS  Greenhouse · 2026 AI Hiring Guardrails Job Seekers Want (%)         Option to request a human interview instead  46% Upfront disclosure  44% Clear explanation of what AI is measuring  39% A human reviews AI’s evaluation before any decision  38% Evidence the tool has been audited for bias  29%  0 10 20 30 40 50    SOURCE Greenhouse 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report    View the data| Guardrail | Share of US job seekers (%) |
|---|---|
| Option to request a human interview instead | 46 |
| Upfront disclosure | 44 |
| Clear explanation of what AI is measuring | 39 |
| A human reviews AI's evaluation before any decision | 38 |
| Evidence the tool has been audited for bias | 29 |





## Public Opinion on AI Hiring Decisions

- In Pew Research Center’s December 2022 survey, Americans oppose AI use in making final hiring decisions by a **71%** to **7%** margin, and a majority also opposes AI analysis being used in making firing decisions.
- A smaller plurality (**41%**) also opposes the use of AI in reviewing job applications.
- Pluralities oppose AI use in determining whether a worker should be promoted.

| AI use in hiring (Pew, December 2022) | Oppose or would not apply (%) | Favor or would apply (%) |
|---|---|---|
| AI making final hiring decisions | 71 | 7 |
| Applying to an employer that uses AI in hiring decisions | 66 | 32 |

*Source: Pew Research Center survey of 11,004 US adults, December 12 to 18, 2022*

Pew’s survey is the oldest dataset on this page and predates the AI interview figures below, so its shares describe attitudes before AI screening became routine for job seekers.

## AI Interviews, Disclosure and Drop-Off

- Among US job seekers, nearly two-thirds (**63%**) have now been interviewed by an AI, up **13** percentage points from six months ago.
- **38%** of candidates have walked away from a hiring process because it included an AI interview, and another **12%** say they would.
- For one in five (**21%**), they only found out once the interview started.
- Just **18%** say employers have clear AI policies.
- Among those who completed an AI interview, **28%** moved forward to the next round, while **13%** were formally rejected, and **51%** never heard back.
- The biggest triggers for walking away include pre-recorded video interviews scored by AI with no human present (**33%**).

 SHARE OF US JOB SEEKERS · Source: Greenhouse 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report, US respondents (n=1,200)     SHARE OF US JOB SEEKERS  Greenhouse · 2026 Why Job Seekers Quit AI Interviews (%)         Pre-recorded video interview scored by AI, no human present  33% Company did not disclose how AI would be used  27% AI monitoring during the process  26%  0 7 14 21 28 35    SOURCE Greenhouse 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report, US respondents (n=1,200)    View the data| Walk-away trigger | Share of US job seekers (%) |
|---|---|
| Pre-recorded video interview scored by AI, no human present | 33 |
| Company did not disclose how AI would be used | 27 |
| AI monitoring during the process | 26 |





> **Why it matters:** The majority of candidates (**70%**) were never clearly told upfront that AI would be evaluating them, yet **57%** believe disclosure should be a legal requirement, Greenhouse reports. AI interviews have spread faster than the habit of telling candidates about them, and a majority of job seekers want the law to close that gap.

## How Job Seekers Use AI

- A 4Q24 Gartner survey of **3,290** job candidates found that four in 10 candidates (**39%**) said they used AI during the application process.
- Of those, **54%** used it to generate text for their résumé or CV.
- Of the **1,200** US job seekers surveyed, **41%** admit to using prompt injections, hidden text designed to bypass AI filters, and of those who don’t, **52%** say they are considering it.
- **69%** encountered fake job postings, and nearly half (**49%**) submitted more applications than a year ago.
- Over half (**54%**) have encountered an AI-led interview.

 SHARE OF CANDIDATES WHO USED AI · Source: Gartner 4Q24 survey of 3,290 job candidates     SHARE OF CANDIDATES WHO USED AI  Gartner How Candidates Used AI to Apply, 4Q24 (%)         Text for résumé or CV  54% Text for cover letter  50% Text for writing sample  36% Answers to assessment questions  29%  0 12 24 36 48 60    SOURCE Gartner 4Q24 survey of 3,290 job candidates    View the data| Application use | Share of candidates who used AI (%) |
|---|---|
| Text for résumé or CV | 54 |
| Text for cover letter | 50 |
| Text for writing sample | 36 |
| Answers to assessment questions | 29 |





## Hiring Fraud and Candidate Deception

- Over nine in every ten (**91%**) recruiters have spotted candidate deception, and **34%** spend up to half their week filtering spam and junk applications.
- Two in every three (**65%**) hiring managers have caught applicants using AI deceptively, such as reading from AI-generated scripts (**32%**).
- **74%** of hiring managers say they’re more concerned about fake credentials, deepfakes, or misrepresented experience than they were a year ago.
- A 2Q25 Gartner survey of **3,000** job candidates found **6%** admitted to participating in interview fraud.
- Gartner predicts that by 2028, one in four candidate profiles worldwide will be fake.
- **51%** of candidates accepted a job offer in their most recent application process (2Q25), a substantial decline from 2Q23, when **74%** accepted.

 SHARE OF US HIRING MANAGERS · Source: Greenhouse, AI in Hiring Report, November 2025     SHARE OF US HIRING MANAGERS  Greenhouse · 2025 Deceptive AI Use Caught by Hiring Managers (%)        Reading from AI-generated scripts  32% Hiding prompt injections in resumes  22% Showing up as deepfakes  18%  0 8 16 24 32    SOURCE Greenhouse, AI in Hiring Report, November 2025    View the data| Deceptive AI use | Share of US hiring managers (%) |
|---|---|
| Reading from AI-generated scripts | 32 |
| Hiding prompt injections in resumes | 22 |
| Showing up as deepfakes | 18 |





## How AI Is Changing HR Jobs and Productivity

- Just **7%** of organizations report [job displacement](/ai-replacing-jobs-statistics/) from AI implementation, while **57%** are seeing increased upskilling and reskilling opportunities.
- **87%** of HR professionals report [improved efficiency](/employee-productivity-statistics/), **75%** improved work quality, and **70%** increased creativity.
- More than half of organizations (**52%**) do not involve HR in AI strategy or vision.
- Only **28%** say that HR is leading upskilling efforts, compared to **29%** that are led by cross-functional teams.
- A July 2025 Gartner survey of **114** HR leaders found that **27%** of organizations have redefined job roles or skills due to AI or emerging technologies in the past **12** months, and **10%** have replaced some employees with AI or automation.
- Gartner predicts **50%** of current HR tasks will be automated or managed by [AI agents](/ai-agents-statistics/) by 2030.
- The number of organizations piloting and implementing [generative AI](/generative-ai-statistics/) has surged from **19%** to **61%** in just two years, per Gartner surveys of **197** HR leaders in June 2023 and January 2025.

 SHARE OF ORGANIZATIONS · Source: SHRM, State of AI in HR 2026 research     SHARE OF ORGANIZATIONS  SHRM · 2026 AI Effects on HR Jobs, SHRM 2026 (%)         Increased upskilling and reskilling opportunities  57% Shifts in job responsibilities  39% Creation of new roles  24% Job displacement  7%  0 12 24 36 48 60    SOURCE SHRM, State of AI in HR 2026 research    View the data| Effect reported | Share of organizations (%) |
|---|---|
| Increased upskilling and reskilling opportunities | 57 |
| Shifts in job responsibilities | 39 |
| Creation of new roles | 24 |
| Job displacement | 7 |





## NYC Local Law 144 Statistics

- DCWP began enforcement of the law and rule on July 5, 2023.
- DCWP can impose civil penalties between **$500** and **$1,500** per day for violations.
- The New York State Comptroller’s [audit](https://www.osc.ny.gov/state-agencies/audits/2025/12/02/enforcement-local-law-144-automated-employment-decision-tools), issued December 2, 2025, covered the period from July 2023 through June 2025.
- DCWP received only two AEDT complaints during the audit’s scope.

| Local Law 144 enforcement measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| DCWP enforcement start | July 5, 2023 |
| Civil penalty per day of violation | $500 to $1,500 |
| AEDT complaints received, July 2023 to June 2025 | Two |
| Companies whose websites and bias audits DCWP surveyed | 32 |
| Non-compliance issues identified by DCWP | One |
| Potential non-compliance instances identified by the Comptroller | At least 17 |

*Source: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection; Office of the New York State Comptroller audit, December 2025*

> **By the numbers:** DCWP surveyed websites and bias audits of **32** companies and identified just a single issue of non-compliance. State auditors reviewed the same companies and identified at least **17** instances of potential non-compliance under LL144. The law has been enforceable since mid-2023, yet the city’s own review caught almost none of what state auditors found.

### What does NYC Local Law 144 require?

Local Law 144 of 2021 prohibits employers and employment agencies from using an automated employment decision tool (AEDT) unless the tool has been subject to a bias audit within one year of the use of the tool, information about the bias audit is publicly available, and certain notices have been provided to employees or job candidates.

## EU AI Act and State AI Hiring Rules

- AI systems intended to be used for the recruitment or selection of natural persons, in particular to place targeted job advertisements, to analyse and filter job applications, and to evaluate candidates, are listed in Annex III.
- CV-sorting software for recruitment is the European Commission’s example of AI tools for employment.
- The AI Act entered into force on August 1, 2024 and became applicable on August 2, 2026, with some exceptions.
- While **49%** of organizations have policies in place to regulate AI use among employees, only a quarter believe those policies are future-proof.
- Among HR professionals who are aware of workforce-related AI rules, only **12%** have taken steps to ensure compliance.
- Currently, **19** of the most populous states have enacted AI laws or regulations relating to employment.

| Date | EU AI Act milestone |
|---|---|
| August 1, 2024 | AI Act entered into force |
| February 2, 2025 | Prohibited AI practices and AI literacy obligations apply |
| August 2, 2025 | Governance rules and obligations for general-purpose AI (GPAI) models apply |
| July 27, 2026 | AI Omnibus enters into force |
| August 2, 2026 | AI Act becomes applicable, with some exceptions |
| December 2, 2027 | Rules for high-risk AI systems in Annex III, which covers recruitment, apply |
| August 2, 2028 | Rules for high-risk AI embedded in regulated products (Annex I) apply |

*Source: European Commission, AI Act Service Desk, 2024 to 2026*

## HR Software Spending Signals

- Workday’s total revenues were **$9.552 billion**, an increase of **13.1%** from fiscal 2025.
- Subscription revenues were **$8.833 billion**, an increase of **14.5%** from the prior year.
- Workday expects fiscal 2027 [subscription revenues](https://newsroom.workday.com/2026-02-24-Workday-Announces-Fiscal-2026-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-Financial-Results) of approximately **$9.925 billion** to **$9.950 billion**, representing **12%** to **13%** growth.
- In Q2, AI drove more than **25%** of Workday’s new annual contract value (ACV).

| Workday metric | Period | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Total revenues | Fiscal 2026 | $9.552 billion |
| Subscription revenues | Fiscal 2026 | $8.833 billion |
| Total revenues | Q2 fiscal 2027 | $2.649 billion |
| Subscription revenues | Q2 fiscal 2027 | $2.471 billion |
| Subscription revenue outlook | Fiscal 2027 | approximately $9.925 billion to $9.950 billion |

*Source: Workday results releases, February and August 2026*

> **The takeaway:** Workday expects fiscal 2027 subscription revenues of approximately **$9.925 billion** to **$9.950 billion**, and it is prioritizing investment in its agentic AI roadmap. Workday’s results track one HR software vendor, not total HR technology spending, so they signal demand rather than measure the whole market.

## Conclusion

Just **39%** of organizations have implemented AI in their HR functions, and only **26%** of job candidates trust AI will fairly evaluate them. These AI in HR and recruiting statistics show employers adding AI to hiring faster than candidates are willing to trust it.

New York City’s DCWP received only two AEDT complaints during the audit’s scope, and EU rules for high-risk AI systems in Annex III apply starting December 2, 2027. Until enforcement catches up, disclosure and human review in hiring will stay largely up to employers.