721 out of 3,000 HR professionals in Brazil say that finding talent is becoming more challenging, according to a LinkedIn survey.

In an increasingly dynamic and competitive market, a new survey from LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, revealed that Brazilian recruiters are facing difficulties in finding professionals with the necessary skills to fill the available positions. According to the new study, 72% of HR professionals state that hiring talent has become more challenging in the past year.

Among the main obstacles pointed out by experts are the scarcity of candidates with the right technical (65%) and behavioral (58%) skills and the growth in the volume of applications without the proper qualifications (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 such as using Artificial Intelligence and a skills-focused recruitment model have been gaining ground as alternatives to optimize hiring and reduce the talent gap in the country.

The study shows 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 relationships and negotiations. In addition, 89% also state that technology has accelerated talent identification, and 88% emphasize that AI assists in creating more accurate job descriptions, making ads more appealing to the right candidates.

"The job market is going through a rapid transformation, and companies that do not adapt will be at a significant disadvantage. Finding and retaining qualified talent requires new strategies, and Artificial Intelligence has already established itself as 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 hirings are more agile and accurate."“, Ana Claudia Plihal, Talent Solutions Executive at LinkedIn in Brazil, states..

From experience to skills: a new hiring model

The research also reveals a misalignment between the demands of companies and the qualifications available in the market, with 69% of HR professionals in Brazil stating that there is a gap between the skills that candidates possess and the ones that companies truly 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 experience could be the solution to fill positions more quickly.

“We are seeing a paradigm shift in recruitment. Companies that adopt a more skills-focused approach, rather than just looking at academic background or experience, are more successful in hiring and retaining talent. This new model opens up opportunities for a greater number of candidates and allows organizations to expand their horizons in the search for qualified professionals.“, complements Ana Plihal.

In this sense, transitioning to a skill-focused hiring model, with the support of recruiting technologies, emerges as a key path to reducing the labor market gap, expanding access to qualified talent, 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 the principles of ESOMAR. Moreover, Censuswide is a member of the British Polling Council.