HR firms say finding the right candidates is now harder than ever

• Half of businesses are finding it hard to recruit the right talent
• LinkedIn's UK Jobs on the Rise list comprises brand-new and emerging roles
• Businesses are preparing to upskill workers with AI and sustainability

LinkedIn has identified a concerning trend among HR professionals, who now claim finding the right talent is harder than ever.

A new "UK Jobs on the Rise" report from the online recruitment platform revealed the time-consuming nature of candidate sourcing, with around one in four (23%) HR workers spending an average of three to five hours daily sifting through applications.

Moreover, two in five (42%) said not even half of the applicants meet all listed criteria, making it an unrewarding task.

Finding job candidates is getting harder

LinkedIn's data revealed two-fifths (41%) of candidates apply to more roles than ever, but they’re receiving fewer replies than previously. Now, more than half (54%) of job seekers and four in five (79%) HR workers say that the hiring process has become more difficult.

The challenges have been amplified by evolving skills demands across all industries, with the rise of AI-induced automation tweaking job roles in the name of operational efficiency.

Over half (55%) of the roles appearing on the UK Jobs on the Rise list didn’t even exist 25 years ago, with many new AI and sustainability roles emerging.

As a result, half (49%) of the HR professionals studied find it hard to find the right people with the necessary technical skills.

It’s not a story of lost hope, though, because two in three (65%) organizations intend to prioritize AI upskilling efforts, and a similar number (64%) will focus on sustainability.

Apart from AI’s effects on job opportunities, AI is also playing a crucial role in the hiring process. Two in three (67%) HR professionals believe AI makes it easier for them to find qualified candidates to the point that 45% are calling for more tech to streamline the process.

“With work and hiring changing so rapidly - the skills needed for jobs are expected to change 70% by 2030 - businesses must find a way to bridge any gaps within their organisations," LinkedIn UK Country Manager Janine Chamberlin commented.

Chamberlin added how, ultimately, a shifting landscape presents “a very exciting opportunity for both ojb seekers and leaders to think differently about skills and stay competitive.”

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