Awareness and attitudes towards AI in workforce management

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into workforce management has become a transformative force, reshaping recruitment processes and operational efficiencies.  

In a recent study by Guidant Global, we explored the current awareness and attitudes towards AI among professionals, with a mix of both optimism and apprehension in its adoption. 

Awareness of AI in recruitment and workforce management 

The research indicated a high level of awareness about AI among respondents. Around 90% of respondents demonstrated a degree of awareness about AI, with 55% being somewhat aware and 33% very aware of AI's opportunities in recruitment. 

Only 8% of respondents stated they have limited or no awareness. This indicates that AI's potential in recruitment and workforce management is widely acknowledged. 

The sentiment towards AI in recruitment is overall very positive. Nearly three quarters of all respondents stated that they felt positive about use of AI in the workplace, with 41% of respondents holding a positive view and 33% feeling 'very positive.’  

Conversely, 15% have mixed feelings, and only 3% express negative or very negative sentiments.  

 "Where organisations are seeking to work as time and cost effectively as possible, the overall positive sentiment towards AI in talent acquisition and workforce management stems from its ability to streamline processes and provide valuable insights in record time that were previously unimaginable,” states Darren Topping, Director of Enterprise Solutions Insights and Partnerships at Guidant Global. 

“However, the hindrance for some individuals lies in the lack of familiarity with the technology, which is why educational initiatives to highlight the benefits of AI in workforce management and demonstrating its safe implementation are so important to address these lingering concerns.” 

Positive sentiments are being backed up by results, with over three quarters of all respondents stating they have found AI tools either very or somewhat effective. In fact, only 5% have had a negative experience, stating they find AI tools used ineffective. There is, unsurprisingly perhaps, a higher integration and acceptance of AI within tech roles compared to other functions, with tech professionals seeing the value of using AI more frequently in their day-to-day work than non-tech.  

Concerns that AI will completely take over are low for both tech and non-tech-based workers. However, despite the reassured outlook, there are notable concerns about AI in recruitment. The leading concern is the loss of ‘the human touch,’ with over a third citing this as a concern.  

Other less commonly stated concerns are surrounding privacy and data security, potential bias, and the complexity and cost of implementation. 

“We don’t believe AI will ever take over in contingent workforce management,” states Alexa Bradbury, Marketing Director UK & Europe at Guidant Global. 

“AI can go a long way to optimising a dynamic workforce ecosystem with cutting-edge AI technology, but the way in which we work, this is always all underpinned by a ‘people-first’ collaborative approach and embedded mission-critical expertise.”   

Next steps in transforming workforce management with AI 

Are you interested in finding out more about how AI is revolutionising contingent workforce management and recruitment? Dive deeper into our comprehensive report on AI in workforce management to uncover detailed insights, statistics, and expert opinions. Download the full report now to stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions for your organisation.