REC response to Prime Minister’s comments on recruitment: ‘Go digital where it matters and human where it counts’

Responding to the Prime Minister’s concerns on AI and video interviews in recruitment, Maxine Bligh, Chief Membership & Innovation Officer at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), said:

“Many recruiters will agree with the Prime Minister that new technologies must not come at the expense of fairness and transparency in the hiring process. It is also encouraging to see him engaging early in his tenure with a recruitment industry worth £40 billion to the UK economy.

“Our industry is at a turning point. The challenge is using AI to make better hiring decisions while giving recruiters more time to do the one thing technology cannot replace, which is building relationships with people.

"While Zoom interviewing has its place in the early stages of recruitment, particularly where people cannot attend a physical meeting or for accessibility reasons, in-person connection is always vital to a good placement. Likewise, AI tools are helpful, even essential, when dealing with a huge volume of applications, but it takes skill and professionalism to make the right call. The key message from us to recruiters is to go digital where it matters and human where it counts. In the end, people hire people, and sustainable recruitment is built on trust, expertise and long-term thinking, not just algorithms.

“What recruiters want to hear next from the government is greater recognition that temporary work can provide the meaningful and rewarding opportunities at the heart of Labour’s ambitions for working people. Policy should support and encourage that part of the labour market, particularly at a time when much of the growth in this uncertain economy is coming from flexible and temporary work.”

Notes to editors

1.     The REC is the voice of the UK recruitment, staffing and talent industry, driving professional standards and empowering its members to lead effective workforce planning across the labour market. REC members are recognised for their professionalism and the value they provide to clients and candidates. The recruitment industry contributed £40.6 billion to the UK economy in 2024, accounting for 1.6% of the UK's Gross Value Added (GVA), according to the most recent Recruitment Industry Status Report (RISR) 2024–25.