ZDNET’s key takeaways:

AI is both a benefit and an emerging hindrance for recruiters and organizations.

A third of recruiters said AI-polished resumes are the top source of stress.

Refocusing on human connection is key to shaping AI in hiring.

An annual report from recruiting solutions company Employ — which owns Lever, Jobvite, and JazzHR — found that 74% of HR decision-makers report increased hiring activity in 2026, while recruiter stress has fallen for the second consecutive year, largely due to improved AI tools and hiring systems.

But the pressure is still on to source qualified job-seekers, especially for increasingly prevalent roles in AI development — and AI is bringing a tricky trade-off for recruitment teams and leaders.

“You have a lot of people applying for jobs very easily with the click of a button … I think that makes a recruiter or hiring manager’s job really difficult,” Employ CEO Jerry Jao said.…