Research from the Institute of Job Aggregation (IJA) has revealed growing concerns among jobseekers regarding the rise of AI in the recruitment process.

Nearly half (48%) of respondents reported seeing an increase in fake job advertisements since AI tools have become more prevalent. In comparison, an overwhelming 90% 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 jobseekers.

Key threats to future job traffic include bot traffic inflating job views and creating fake listings – making it harder for genuine jobseekers to find opportunities; 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 jobseekers and employer demands.

Mike Wall, chair of the IJA, emphasised the importance of tackling these emerging issues: “The results of our survey clearly show that jobseekers are feeling the negative impacts of AI-driven technologies in the recruitment process. 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 can offer 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. 

(The research was carried out by Research without Barriers in August 2024.)

• Comment below on this story. Or let us know what you think by emailing us at [email protected] or tweet us to tell us your thoughts or share this story with a friend.