Input Stories

Employers are increasingly looking to artificial intelligence to help them shore up their workforces, according to The Wall Street Journal (subscription).

What’s happening: “By automating previously manual tasks—like pre-screening job applicants for basic qualifications, checking for professional credentials and licenses, or scheduling follow-up interviews—employers hope to streamline the hiring process and scoop up available workers before competitors move in.”

• Companies are also using AI tools to quicken and smooth onboarding, orientation and training processes.

Hiring slowdown: U.S. hiring slowed in December, the U.S. Department of Labor reported last week. Employers added 199,000 new jobs, compared to the average monthly job growth of 537,000 in 2021.

AI-tool caveats? Some say AI tools miss crucial aspects in the job-placement process, such as accurately conveying company culture.

• Some lawmakers have called for more scrutiny of AI tools in hiring, saying the use of such software can result in unintentional bias against candidates.

More about the future: Join the Manufacturing Leadership Council at the Smart Factory @ Wichita on the Wichita State University Innovation Campus in Wichita, Kansas, for an opportunity to tour the facility and experience how competitive advantage can be accelerated through digital transformation.