Top 10 HR and Recruitment Tech Trends for 2021

There was a time when people made plans about things that actually worked. And then, 2020 happened! This passing year has been one that has made us all believe in and swear by the uncertainties of life and everything around us. It has also changed the meaning of certain things for everyone. The human resources industry was no exception to this change. The work culture that was prominent until early 2020 was now forced to be altered into something people like calling the “new normal”.

This new normal, no matter how different it seems, is the only way to survive the failing economy with the hope for things to fall in place again. This year, specifically, has brought about the understanding that technology will not be enough for human beings. It forced us to explore new possibilities and angles of certain situations that we did not think were possible. Through all these struggles, technology has been man’s best friend.

Let us take a look at how the world of work has changed in these last few months and explore the recruitment tech trends for 2021.

1. Altered work patterns

Immediately after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work gained huge popularity. With passing time and the increasing ease with technology, people have started to see the benefits of this. The WFH format has helped save travel time for many people, which is now better utilized elsewhere, by either picking up a hobby or doing something for the family. It is also making it possible for employees to have flexible working hours. The interaction between people from different time zones has also become easier to mediate.

Apart from this, now people are able to look for work in different cities since working remotely is possible. There is greater exposure and exploration of opportunities. There are also more diverse types of job options available as per the latest HR tech trends and predictions. It also makes employers look beyond the location of the employee and hire them on the basis of their skillset.

2. Greater reliance on artificial intelligence (AI)

Since video conferences are the only ways to interact with potential employees, the companies are relying highly and heavily on using AI to start playing an active role in the hiring and recruitment process. The initial candidate filtering has been easier because of the completely automated process. That not only saves time, but it also brings a lot of objectivity. While interviews can bring in a handful of personal biases and assumptions, the objectivity that AI is bringing in is important. It balances the recruitment process while also saving time, effort and money. Replying to candidates has become easier too because of artificial chatbots.

Among the many HR tech trends for 2021, this is one that is going to be very prominent. AI makes things virtual and digital. Because of this, there are a lot of financial and non-financial resources that are going to be saved. It would, additionally, help employers distribute and use their finances in better ways. It also would allow them the liberty to choose the things they want to spend their budgets on.

3. Automated recruitment processes

There are many job portals that have adapted a complete automatic recruitment process for the employers as well as employees. Initially, job portals were limited to listings of various jobs and applicants physically applying to them. But many platforms now offer the option of taking assessments of the candidates and the skills deemed essential by the employer through various practical tests. Due to such a process, selected employees only are called directly for the interview after viewing their reports of these assessments.

Some of the skills tested by leading job portals now are verbal communication, nonverbal communication, comprehension, reasoning, mathematical ability. etc. The participant’s scores form a base for the employee to take the candidature further. This is one of the more beloved recruitment tech trends.

4. Rise in freelancing

When speaking of HR technology trends 2021, we cannot possibly skip this one. Since this year has been difficult for all industries, a lot of companies have had to downsize their workforce and, in effect, fire individuals from multiple teams.

And as if that was not enough, it has become increasingly difficult to commute to work and back. Also, a full-time job has become practically risky.

In such scenarios, people are finding it better and easier on freelancer terms. Some people are also willingly opting for project-based jobs, which helps them choose the work they do and the hours of work as per their convenience. This trend that started as an alternative to full-time employment has, indeed, turned out to be a bliss for both the employees and the employers.

5. Retention strategies for employers

Employers, globally, have had difficulty in managing work during and post the pandemic and lockdown. But, there is a silver lining to this too. Now, companies can increase their budgets for retention policies and do a bit more to keep their existing employees from leaving or losing jobs.

This allows employers to provide better facilities to employees, building a relationship of trust and mutual respect for both. That also makes employers feel connected to the employees, which directly results in improved quality of work. Providing better facilities to employees increases their chances of standing by the company and the employer in the time of crisis. This HR tech trend is sure to continue in 2021 and will reduce employee turnover, thus, saving a company’s recruitment and training costs.

6. Diversified recruitment

Since remote work has become commonplace today, employees and employers alike are going to have a widespread pool available. This will make it possible for employers to hire candidates from diverse backgrounds that could help company culture and company performance as well. Due to a diverse workforce, the company gets into the habit of not only tolerating different points of views but also respecting them. This also opens the door of opportunities from underprivileged individuals to seek employment at par the more privileged.

7. Displacement of jobs and the changing economy

During the course of the last few months, the economy has not been doing great. There have been major pitfalls in the area. But slowly and steadily, as we are becoming capable of controlling the spread of the pandemic, and, finally, there has been an upward arrow going for the market. The companies will soon hire individuals who had become professionally displaced during the crisis. Also, due to the changing trends in the economy, there is a need for a workforce to work as per the requirements of all the “new normal” parameters.

8. Continuous opportunities of learning and development

While technology has solved a lot of things and made it better, there are certain requirements that it has made mandatory. Knowing Microsoft Office will no longer count as your special skill because it will get transferred to the “essential skills” column. Among the recruitment tech trends for 2021, is the need to get trained, ever so frequently, and keep oneself updated as the market demands.

While this might be a double-sided sword, as it is definitely going to provide opportunities for continuous growth and development. This practice will also result in a workplace where there is scope for a professional upgrade.

9. Newer ways of monitoring performance

Since most of the time has been spent online for work, the 2021 HR trends will bring in a comprehensive system to monitor and measure the performance of the employees. There will be different ways to do that apart from looking at their direct work. There will also be built-in systems to take efficient monitoring into account. Technology will make it possible for this system to be created and administered.

10. The gig economy becoming a bigger part of our reality

The gig economy, undoubtedly, has been in this race for a short while now. However, in 2021, it is expected to catch up and take centre stage. This phenomenon is rather likely as there is going to be a sharp rise in the number of people increasingly wanting to work in their own way, on their conditions. Employers too are beginning to realize that a combination of full-time, contractual and freelancing employees is what will work for them.

Today, many companies witness a workforce with an almost 30% gig economy employees. Hence, HR has to ensure that their diverse workforce works on a single platform and that they manage job applicants, their recruitment, work performance, compensation, etc. on the same platforms as well.

Since the world has become fast-paced, the survival of the fittest is not what anyone is looking for any more. It is the survival of the fastest-changing and most adapting trends of today’s times that will keep a company afloat. The HR and recruitment space is not an exception and cannot be unaffected by this massive change. These new recruitment and HR trends are here to stay and it is time that we all adapt to them.