New Data Reveals What Talent Leaders Actually Think About AI and Remote Work In 2024

AI and changing ways of work are the top 2024 Hiring Trends

Compounding effects from remote work, economic uncertainty, and AI are rapidly changing the working landscape—but how are company leaders responding??

At Willo, we specialize in helping business leaders in organizations of all sizes feel more confident in their hiring decisions. While our one-way video interview platform is a key way we deliver on that promise, we also know that marketplace data is critical for helping people understand what peers and competitors are up to. To that end, we surveyed talent and business leaders from around the world to better understand the trends they see on the horizon and how they are planning for them.?

This article is just a small snippet of the 2024 Hiring Trends Report, which you can download for free here.?

Takeaway 1: Company leaders are focused on flexibility and AI

Respondents overwhelmingly cite AI and flexible work as the key trends they’ll need to manage in 2024.?

Source: Willo 2024 Hiring Trends

In particular, shifting work structures were the leading trend: 41.1% are looking either to offer more remote work, flexible schedules, or bringing freelancers and contractors onto their teams. The other big trend, to no one’s surprise, is AI: 37% say the accelerated adoption of AI in the recruitment process is the trend to watch for 2024.

What this means for talent leaders: Top talent increasingly wants work that empowers, rather than hinders, their ideal lifestyle. As you create new roles, think about the absolute minimum structure they need to be successful, then build from there.?

Takeaway 2: Competition and salary are the two biggest barriers to attracting top talent

While nearly three-quarters (72.6%) of company leaders are planning for growth in 2024, they don’t necessarily expect it to be easy. Respondents noted a few anticipated hiring and retention challenges, chief among them the salary and benefits expectations that top talent will have (42.5%).

Source: Willo 2024 Hiring Trends

The next two concerns are skills shortages stopping companies from getting the talent they need (21.9%) and competition from other employers (19.2%).

What this means for talent leaders: Top talent has choices—and demands. Even in a potentially softening labor market, the most talented individuals will always retain optionality. As a result, you have to think about designing talent attraction programs in a way that draws those individuals in. But you don’t need to beg and chase; instead, think about the kinds of work or challenges a talented individual might want in the first place.?

Takeaway 3: Talent leaders are skeptical about bringing AI into the hiring process

Over one-third (35.6%) say AI is a valuable tool that can improve hiring. But when it comes to AI, the majority have reservations: 45.2% expressed caution due to the potential ethical implications and a further 15.1% believe AI should not be used to make hiring judgments.

Source: Willo 2024 Hiring Trends

For a small minority, AI is a no-go entirely: 4.1% said AI should not play any role in hiring.

What this means for talent leaders: “AI” is actually an umbrella term for a variety of different technologies, from large language models like ChatGPT to machine learning algorithms and more. If you’re thinking about bringing AI into your organization, and in particular into your hiring process, make sure you understand the problem you aim to solve first; adding AI should be in the “solution” phase rather than the sole goal of the project.?

A changing world of work ahead

The intrigue around AI is tangible in almost every business conversation. But that’s not the only change happening: flexible schedules, remote work, and the rise of freelancing and contract work has the potential to fundamentally change the landscape of employment going forward.

For companies navigating these changes and hiring, the key is to get to know candidates as best you can, in the context of the role they would be filling. This means one-size-fits-all tools like CVs are quickly losing steam as a valuable use of everyone’s time. Instead, purpose-built solutions like one-way video interviewing and objective candidate scoring can help save hours of Recruiter time per week and improve the candidate experience.?

Building a resilient company in any market conditions takes the right team; even as major trends come into play that will change how whole industries operate, respondents are primarily looking for growth opportunities in 2024. That doesn’t mean it’s all easy, though, with challenges coming at every turn. The key will be to leverage the right solutions for each organization’s problems at hand; luckily, we’re in a golden age of technology to help us accomplish our goals.?

For more data and insight on hiring trends, download the full 2024 Trends Report