72% of HR professionals in Brazil say finding talent is being more challenging, according to LinkedIn research

In an increasingly dynamic and competitive market, a new survey by LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, showed that Brazilian recruiters are struggling to find professionals with the skills to fill available positions. According to the new study, 72% of HR professionals say that hiring talent has become more challenging in the last year.

Among the main obstacles pointed out by the experts are the shortage of candidates with the right technical (65%) and behavioral (58%) skills and the growth in the volume of applications without the proper qualification (55%). This reality imposes a double challenge: while recruiters need to deal with a more laborious and time-consuming process, qualified candidates often face greater competition and difficulties to stand out. Faced with this scenario, innovative solutions, such as the use of Artificial Intelligence and a recruitment model focused on skills, have gained 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 relationships and negotiations.In addition, 89% also state that technology has accelerated talent identification, and 88% highlight that AI helps in creating more assertive job descriptions, making ads more attractive to the right candidates.

“The labor market is undergoing an accelerated 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 consolidated 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 hiring is more agile and assertive“, ana Claudia Plihal, LinkedIn Talent Solutions Executive in Brazil.

From experience to skills: a new hiring model

The survey also reveals a misalignment between company requirements and market-available qualifications, 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 diplomas and past experiences can be the solution to filling vacancies faster.

“Companies that take a more skill-focused look, not just at academic background or experience, are more successful at hiring and retaining talent.This new model opens opportunities for a larger number of candidates and allows organizations to broaden their horizons in the search for qualified professionals“, complements Ana Plihal.

In this sense, the transition to a skills-focused hiring model, with the support of recruitment technologies, emerges as a key path to reduce the labor market gap, expanding access to qualified talent and making companies more competitive and inclusive.

Methodology

The survey was conducted by Censuswide, with a sample of 500 HR professionals and talent acquisition leaders in Brazil (18+). Data were 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. In addition, Censuswide is a member of the British Polling Council.