Recruitment Revolution: AI Helps India’s Workforce Shine Brighter |

Updated: February 05, 2026 02:31

Image Source: Defitex

A new LinkedIn study reveals that 71 percent of Indian recruiters are leveraging artificial intelligence to identify overlooked talent. With hiring activity running 40 percent above pre-pandemic levels, recruiters face challenges in filtering quality candidates amid rising application volumes and skill shortages.

India’s recruitment landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a vital tool in talent acquisition. According to LinkedIn’s latest report, a majority of recruiters in India are now using AI to uncover candidates with skills that might otherwise be missed. This shift comes at a time when hiring activity remains robust but increasingly complex.

Key Highlights

Recruiters report that 74 percent struggle to find qualified candidates despite high hiring activity, pointing to a mismatch between volume and quality of applications.
71 percent of recruiters say AI helps them identify hidden skills and overlooked talent, improving the accuracy of candidate selection.
80 percent of recruiters believe AI makes it easier to gain deeper insights into candidate skills, enhancing the overall hiring process.
76 percent of recruiters confirm that AI is already accelerating hiring timelines, reducing delays in filling critical roles.
53 percent of recruiters highlight a surge in AI-generated applications as a challenge, while 47 percent cite shortages in in-demand skills.
48 percent of recruiters admit that distinguishing genuine candidates from low-quality or misleading applications has added friction to the process.
Applicants per open role in India have more than doubled since 2022, intensifying competition in the job market.
72 percent of professionals are actively job-hunting in 2026, but 85 percent feel unprepared to navigate the increasingly complex hiring environment.

The LinkedIn study underscores the growing reliance on AI in India’s recruitment sector. While challenges such as application overload and skill shortages persist, AI is proving to be a powerful ally in helping recruiters identify hidden talent, streamline hiring, and adapt to the evolving dynamics of the labor market.

Sources: LinkedIn Report, Times of India, NDTV, PTI, Express Computer

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