HireVue, the global leader in skills-based hiring, has unveiled its 2025 Global Guide to AI in Hiring, highlighting the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in the hiring process. The report, based on insights from 4,000+ HR leaders and employees worldwide, shows that AI has moved beyond experimentation to full-scale implementation, with HR adoption rising from 58% in 2024 to 72% in 2025.
Additionally, the gap between candidate and HR leader perceptions of AI is narrowing, as job seekers increasingly embrace generative AI as a tool in their employment journey.
AI-Generated Applications Drive Demand for Skill Assessments
HR teams are being flooded with AI-generated applications, prompting a greater reliance on validated skill assessments to ensure hiring quality. Currently, 41% of HR professionals report using skill assessments in their hiring process.
Key AI trends shaping hiring in 2025 include:
- Growing AI trust: Confidence in AI-driven hiring recommendations rose from 37% in 2024 to 51% in 2025.
- Productivity boost: AI-driven automation has led to 63% greater HR productivity, with 55% of leaders automating manual tasks and 52% improving business efficiency.
- AI as a decision-support tool: Trust in AI-powered hiring recommendations increased by 53%, reinforcing that AI is being used to support, not replace, human decision-making.
“AI research continues to advance, enabling models to achieve new levels of predictive performance,” said Dr. Lindsey Zuloaga, Chief Data Scientist at HireVue. “At HireVue, we’re harnessing this progress to uncover job-relevant skills data while delivering a faster, more seamless experience for candidates. Resumes have never told the full story of a person’s potential, and by using HireVue’s technology to validate skills, companies can consistently identify more qualified talent than ever before.”
Candidates See AI as a Tool for Fairness, but Concerns Remain
Candidates are increasingly optimistic about AI’s role in reducing bias in hiring:
- 57% believe AI can help reduce racial/ethnic bias, a 6% increase from last year.
- 45% of workers view racial bias as a major issue in hiring, while 41% see it as a minor concern.
However, skepticism persists, with candidates voicing concerns about misinformation (51%), job replacement fears (51%), and security risks (47%). To address these concerns, the report urges HR leaders to prioritize:
- Positioning AI as a decision-support tool, not a replacement for human judgment.
- Clear communication about AI’s role in hiring.
- Partnering with ethical vendors offering transparent and explainable AI solutions.
As AI continues to evolve, responsible implementation and transparency will be key in shaping a fair, efficient, and skills-based hiring landscape.
