Employers concerned over potential biases stemming from AI: survey
Despite the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) in various industries, a recent study from Hays has revealed that a significant portion of employers in Hong Kong have no immediate plans to integrate AI into their recruitment processes.
The study from Hays Asia, which involved 256 employers from Hong Kong, revealed that 46.6% have no plans to leverage AI for recruitment purposes in the coming year.
Of the employers surveyed, only 22.5% stated that they currently use AI minimally throughout the recruitment process, 9.6% answered that they use it moderately in specific stages, and a smaller 1.7% said they extensively use AI with heavy reliance.
Another 19.7% said they're not yet using AI, but they intend to explore its adoption in the coming year.
Concerns over AI use
Among the employers who have incorporated AI into their recruitment processes, the top three applications identified were resume screening and shortlisting (46.7%), interview scheduling and coordination (25%), and predictive analysis for candidate fit (21.7%).
Despite the potential benefits of AI in streamlining recruitment processes, the report found emerging concerns surrounding bias and ethical considerations, with over half (55.4%) of respondents believing that AI-powered resume screening can introduce biases.
This appears to be a concern emerging worldwide. In Malaysia, 57.4% of employer there also believe that AI-powered resume screening can still be biased.
In New York, a legislation has been passed there requiring AI system use by the state to be tested for potential biases.
Monitor ‘inherent biases’
Marc Burrage, Managing Director of Hays Asia, emphasised the need for organisations to actively address biases and ethical considerations associated with AI in recruitment.
"This involves closely monitoring the inherent biases with their vendors and considering ethical considerations being addressed at the ASEAN level," Burrage said in a statement.
According to the managing director, organisations could utilise such international collaboration to develop necessary frameworks on AI that they can adopt to a local level.
"This is particularly crucial in fostering trust in inclusive hiring, especially considering the expectations of both staff and candidates to utilise AI in recruitment or job-seeking processes," he said.
