Recruitment is evolving fast, and businesses need to stay ahead to attract and retain top talent.
In this webinar, we’ll explore four key recruitment trends shaping 2026:
- The rise of AI-driven recruitment tools that automate sourcing, candidate matching, and analytics. In fact, 85 percent of HR leaders say AI features will influence their HR software purchase decisions, and 54 percent have already added AI capabilities to their systems in the past year.
- The shift toward skill-based hiring, reducing reliance on degrees and expanding talent pools. Nearly 44 percent of HR leaders cite attracting and evaluating skilled professionals as a top challenge, while 63 percent expect workforce growth in the coming year.
- The growing emphasis on candidate experience, ensuring a positive and engaging hiring journey. Over 80 percent of candidates who experience poor communication during recruitment take negative action, such as withdrawing applications or rejecting offers.
- The consolidation of the recruiting technology market, which impacts vendor choices and integration strategies. HR leaders report an average of four tools in their HR tech stack, and 56 percent say improving system integrations triggered a software purchase last year.
Beyond trends, we’ll share practical advice on how to select the right recruiting software for your business and avoid common pitfalls that lead to buyer’s regret. You’ll learn how to align technology with your hiring goals, evaluate vendors effectively, and prioritize features that deliver real value.
This session is designed to help leaders, HR managers, and recruiters make informed decisions in a competitive talent landscape. By understanding these trends and applying best practices, you can optimize your recruitment strategy, reduce costs, and improve candidate engagement.
Meet the Presenter
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Ines Bahr
Ines Bahr is a Senior Content Analyst at Gartner, with nearly 10 years of experience. She specializes in human resources (HR) and digitalization strategies, and investigates new trends in markets around the world. Her digitalization tips are based on more than 30 studies she has conducted in several countries. Her primary research helps executives understand the latest trends that are critical to their business. Bahr's research has been published in multiple tier 1 media publications, and she has spoken at several events.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.