Evolving Recruiter Roles and Identities in the Era of AI-Driven Hiring

ABSTRACT Date: 2025-06-04Level: Bachelor thesis in Business Administration, 15 crInstitution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen UniversityAuthors: Erik Edman(1997-10-27), William Andersson(1999-11-10), Munir Osman(2000-01-03) Title: Evolving Recruiter Roles and Identities in the Era of AI-Driven HiringSupervisor: Aziza Al GhafriKeywords: AI in recruitment, recruiter competencies, role transformation, socio-technical systems, structuration theory Research question: How is AI reshaping recruiters' roles and competencies within contemporary hiring practices? Purpose: AI’s rapid evolution presents opportunities for integration across a multitude of areas. However, use in recruitment practices remains unexplored. The purpose of this study is to explore how the increasing integration of AI in recruitment processes transforms the roles, competencies, and professional identity of recruiters, considering both opportunities and challenges in the evolving hiring landscape. Method: A qualitative mono-method design was used, employing semi-structured interviews with recruiters complemented by secondary literature. Data were analyzed through a deductive thematic analysis based on Socio-Technical Systems Theory, Structuration Theory, Breaugh’s Recruitment Model, and the Value-Based Adoption Model. Conclusion: AI is reshaping recruitment by automating administrative tasks and shifting recruiter roles toward strategic functions. Recruiters are required to develop new competencies such as data literacy and ethical oversight while maintaining human-centered skills like empathy and judgment. While AI can improve efficiency and reduce biases, challenges remain regarding transparency, fairness, and candidate experience. Organizations must invest in recruiter upskilling and ethical AI use to ensure a balanced and inclusive hiring process where technology complements, rather than replaces, human decision-making.