Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, SURVEYS—HR leaders report AI-generated applications are slowing hiring, (Mar 11, 2026)

By WK Editorial Staff

According to a recent survey, 67 percent of HR leaders report that AI-generated applications are slowing the hiring process.

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes hiring, organizations are finding it more difficult—and time-consuming—to identify skilled talent. A survey from a talent solutions and business consulting firm found that 67 percent of U.S. HR leaders say reviewing AI-generated applications has slowed the hiring process, with 20 percent reporting delays of more than 2 weeks.

AI adds complexity to hiring. The rapid rise in the use of AI tools by job seekers is creating new challenges for employers. Sixty five percent of hiring managers report that a surge in applications—many enhanced or generated by AI—has increased the difficulty of verifying candidate skills. In some cases, generative AI tools are fabricating or embellishing work history and skills, making it harder for employers to distinguish authentic experience from AI-generated content. In a market where highly skilled talent is already scarce, this adds time, risk and cost to hiring.

Notably, HR leaders feel the strain, as 84 percent say their teams are experiencing heavier workloads. To validate candidates, many leaders have added steps that can further extend hiring timelines, including:

• Spending more time reviewing applications (42 percent);

• Increasing the number of interviews per candidate (38 percent); and

• Updating job descriptions to discourage generic AI-generated responses (32 percent).

"AI has transformed hiring at every stage," said Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half. "Companies are looking to hire, but a surge in unverified applications is extending timelines and delaying critical work."

How can companies cut through the AI noise? As organizations look for ways to maintain hiring speed and accuracy, many are turning to external partners. Two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) say they are using staffing firms for hiring support, and 89 percent report that those partners have been effective in addressing AI-related hiring challenges, primarily by:

• Leveraging advanced tools to help verify candidate materials;

• Conducting targeted skills assessments; and

• Delivering pre-evaluated, specialized talent quickly for high-priority roles.

"The findings underscore the continued importance of human expertise in assessing talent and reducing hiring risk," Fay added. "AI has made it easier to generate applications, but it hasn't made it easier to identify the right talent. In many cases, it's doing the opposite—increasing the need for trusted experts who can validate skills and deliver qualified candidates quickly."

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