Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way organisations hire for better or for worse.

In Australia, the use of AI in recruitment has nearly doubled over the past year, and spending on AI systems is set to grow to $3.6 billion by 2025 – an increase of 24% since 2020.

Used correctly, this technology can reduce costs, save time, and create fairer outcomes for minority groups. However, a three-year project undertaken by DCA, Hudson RPO and Monash University has revealed that without the right approach, AI has the potential to mirror society’s inequalities and bake in bias.  

To counter this, DCA has released Inclusive AI at Work in Recruitment: How organisations can use AI to help rather than harm diversity as the third and final stage of its groundbreaking Inclusive AI at Work in Recruitment project.

Released today, the report centres on lived experiences and features a set of guidelines developed in consultation with an expert panel of stakeholders representing marginalised job seekers, employers with experience using AI, academics and tech experts.

The Inclusive AI at Work in Recruitment Employer Guidelines include:

  • a 5-step process called T.R.E.A.D. (Team Up, Reflect, Educate, Acquire, Decide) that encourages employers to tread carefully through the process of deploying AI recruitment, and
  • a reflective assessment checklist that enables employers to make an informed decision about how they can best proceed with deploying an AI recruitment tool, so it helps rather than harms workforce diversity.

DCA CEO Lisa Annese said: “We know that unless AI is deployed with a focus on diversity and inclusion it has the potential to mirror society’s inequalities and bake in systemic biases. Conversely, if it’s used with D&I front of mind, the benefits can be astounding".

The recruitment guidelines are the accumulation of three years of research, distilled into practical steps for crucial reflection and action.

“These guidelines will help provide employers with the tools they need to take advantage of this incredible technology in a way that reduces bias and helps foster a more inclusive and diverse Australian workforce,” Annese said.