- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Surge in AI-Generated Job Applications Slows Hiring, Survey Finds
67% of HR leaders say reviewing AI-enhanced resumes has extended hiring timelines by over 2 weeks
Published on Mar. 10, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A survey from talent solutions firm Robert Half found that 67% of U.S. HR leaders say reviewing AI-generated job applications has slowed the hiring process, with 20% reporting delays of more than 2 weeks. The rapid rise in the use of AI tools by job seekers is creating new challenges for employers, as 65% of hiring managers report that a surge in AI-enhanced applications has increased the difficulty of verifying candidate skills.
Why it matters
As artificial intelligence reshapes hiring, organizations are finding it more difficult and time-consuming to identify skilled talent. This adds complexity, risk and cost to the hiring process at a time when highly skilled workers are already in short supply.
The details
84% of HR teams are feeling overworked due to the added time it takes to review AI-generated candidate applications. In some cases, generative AI tools are fabricating or embellishing work history and skills, making it harder for employers to distinguish authentic experience from AI-generated content. To validate candidates, many leaders have added steps that can further extend hiring timelines, including spending more time reviewing applications (42%), increasing the number of interviews per candidate (38%), and updating job descriptions to discourage generic AI-generated responses (32%).
- The survey was conducted in November 2025.
The players
Robert Half
A talent solutions and business consulting firm that conducted the survey.
Dawn Fay
The operational president of Robert Half.
What they’re saying
“AI has transformed hiring at every stage. Companies are looking to hire, but a surge in unverified applications is extending timelines and delaying critical work.”
— Dawn Fay, Operational President, Robert Half (PRNewswire)
“The findings underscore the continued importance of human expertise in assessing talent and reducing hiring risk. AI has made it easier to generate applications, but it hasn't made it easier to identify the right talent. In many cases, it's doing the opposite — increasing the need for trusted experts who can validate skills and deliver qualified candidates quickly.”
— Dawn Fay, Operational President, Robert Half (PRNewswire)
What’s next
As organizations look for ways to maintain hiring speed and accuracy, many are turning to external partners like staffing firms. Two-thirds of respondents (67%) say they are using staffing firms for hiring support, and 89% report that those partners have been effective in addressing AI-related hiring challenges.
The takeaway
The surge in AI-generated job applications is creating new challenges for employers, extending hiring timelines and increasing the difficulty of verifying candidate skills. This underscores the continued importance of human expertise in the hiring process, as organizations seek trusted partners to help navigate these AI-driven complexities.
