LinkedIn has launched its AI-powered Hiring Assistant in Australia, marking the first rollout of the tool designed to streamline the recruitment process and improve candidate quality.
Available from today, the Hiring Assistant automates repetitive tasks such as sourcing, screening and outreach. Early trials have shown it saves more than four hours per role, reduces profile reviews by 62 per cent, and lifts candidate engagement with a 69 per cent higher InMail acceptance rate.
Recruiters are facing growing pressure as job applications rise and AI-written CVs become more common. LinkedIn research found 17 per cent of HR professionals spend three to five hours a day reviewing applications, while 94 per cent say the majority of applications do not meet listed criteria.
Recruiter adoption in Australia
Engineering and infrastructure consultancy Aurecon has fully integrated Hiring Assistant into its recruitment process, cutting candidate sourcing time by around 30 per cent.
Shaun Du Preez, Aurecon Talent Acquisition Lead NSW & ACT, said: “Hiring Assistant is timesaving and I’ve seen about a 30 per cent reduction in time spent on sourcing. It’s allowed me to drive more strategic conversations with hiring managers rather than repetitive search tasks. The quality of candidates Hiring Assistant is surfacing is a game-changer.”
Lucy McGhee, Aurecon Talent Acquisition Lead Victoria and South Australia, added: “LinkedIn’s Hiring Assistant isn’t just an AI tool – it’s a strategic partner and companion in our hiring process. It shows how AI can empower recruiters to do what they do best – connect the right people to the right opportunities.”
AI and the skills shift
According to LinkedIn data, the skills needed for jobs in Australia are projected to change by 66 per cent by 2030 compared to 2016. Hiring Assistant is designed to support skills-based hiring by matching candidates on skills rather than proxies such as education or past employers.
Adam Gregory, Senior Director, ANZ, LinkedIn Talent and Learning Solutions, said: “Recruiters are under growing pressure as more people apply for roles that don’t match their skills. Our new AI agent is designed to take on a recruiter’s most repetitive tasks, so they can spend more time on their most impactful work.”
LinkedIn reports that a skills-based approach can expand candidate pools by 7.7 times in Australia. Its research shows 68 per cent of Australian HR professionals believe AI will expand career opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds, while 56 per cent say AI will push employers to focus more on skills than degrees.
Top image: Adam Gregory