In an increasingly dynamic and competitive market, a new LinkedIn research, the world’s largest professional network, showed that Brazilian recruiters are having difficulties finding professionals with the necessary skills to fill available positions. According to the new study, 72% of HR professionals say that hiring talents has become more challenging in the last year.
Among the main obstacles pointed out by experts are the shortage of candidates with the right technical (65%) and behavioral (58%) skills and the growth in the number of applications without the proper qualification (55%). This reality poses a double challenge: while recruiters need to deal with a more laborious and time-consuming process, qualified candidates often face increased competition and difficulties in standing out. In this scenario, innovative solutions, like the use of Artificial Intelligence and a skills-focused recruitment model, have been gaining space as alternatives to optimize hiring and reduce the talent gap in the country.
The study points out that 89% of HR professionals believe that AI helps reduce operational tasks and optimize time, allowing recruitment teams to focus on more strategic activities, such as candidate relationship and negotiations. In addition, 89% also state that technology has accelerated talent identification, and 88% highlight that AI assists in creating more assertive job descriptions, making ads more appealing to the right candidates.
“The job market is undergoing rapid transformation, and companies that do not adapt will be at a great disadvantage. Finding and retaining qualified talent requires new strategies, and Artificial Intelligence has already become an indispensable tool in this process. With the right technology, recruiters can reduce bottlenecks, expand access to candidates, and make more strategic decisions, ensuring that hiring is more agile and assertive”, says Ana Claudia Plihal, Talent Solutions Executive at LinkedIn in Brazil.
From experience to skills: a new hiring model
The research also reveals a misalignment between companies’ requirements and the qualifications available in the market, with 69% of HR professionals in Brazil stating that there is a gap between the skills candidates possess and the ones companies actually need.
To reduce this discrepancy, 56% of recruiters point out that access to new HR technologies, such as AI tools, would help make the process more efficient, while 44% believe that prioritizing skills over degrees and past experiences could be the solution to fill vacancies more quickly.
“We are seeing a paradigm shift in recruitment. Companies that adopt a more skills-focused approach, not just academic background or experience, are more successful in hiring and retaining talent. This new model opens up opportunities for a larger number of candidates and allows organizations to broaden their horizons in the search for qualified professionals”, adds Ana Plihal.
In this sense, transitioning to a skills-focused hiring model, supported by recruitment technologies, emerges as a key way to reduce the labor market gap, expanding access to qualified talents and making companies more competitive and inclusive.
Methodology
The research was conducted by Censuswide, with a sample of 500 HR professionals and talent acquisition leaders in Brazil (18+). Data was collected between November 28, 2024, and December 13, 2024. Censuswide follows and employs members of the Market Research Society, adhering to its code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Moreover, Censuswide is a member of the British Polling Council.
