ManpowerGroup Enhances Hiring with AI-Powered Interviewing to Confront Global Talent Shortages

MILWAUKEE, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), a leader in workforce solutions, has partnered with Hubert, an innovator in AI-driven interviewing, to expand its "Humans First, Digital Always" recruitment strategy. This collaboration emphasizes employing responsible, explainable AI to elevate hiring experiences for both candidates and organizations while ensuring recruiters remain integral to decision-making.

Valerie Beaulieu-James, Chief Growth & Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, stated, "This partnership centers on people, both candidates and employers. By delegating early screening tasks to AI, our recruiters can focus on what only humans can do: understanding potential and building trust."

As 72% of employers struggle to locate skilled talent, the partnership offers concrete solutions to streamline hiring processes. AI-powered structured interviews enable faster candidate screening, granting organizations quicker access to essential talent and providing timely feedback to candidates. Furthermore, AI enhances accuracy in matching candidates to roles through consistent, criteria-driven assessments, facilitating improved satisfaction for both companies and recruits.

The platform also mitigates bias by ensuring all candidates are evaluated against uniform standards, promoting equity throughout the hiring process. Additionally, with over 60% of candidates completing interviews outside traditional hours, the system offers flexibility, allowing organizations to engage potential hires sooner.

For both organizations and candidates, this collaboration fosters a more transparent, accessible hiring experience. While AI manages the initial stages of recruitment, the final hiring decisions and context remain in the capable hands of ManpowerGroup's skilled professionals. As this alliance expands in 2026, it aims to fortify workforce resilience and promote equitable hiring on a global scale.

At LinkedIn’s Talent Connect Asia-Pacific 2026 held at Singapore's Raffles Hotel, leading CHROs and talent management experts explored practical applications of AI in human resources, aiming for measurable business value amid the rise of the “superworker” era. Ashvin Vaidyanathan, LinkedIn’s VP of Customer Success, emphasized that while AI is transforming the landscape, the human element—internal mobility and adaptive leadership—remains crucial to organizational resilience.

Significant growth in AI engineering roles was noted, particularly in Singapore, where hiring surged by 89% over three years. This growth is stimulating international investments in Asia-Pacific, highlighting markets such as India and Indonesia, which are defying global hiring trends. However, LinkedIn data revealed an 82% rise in feelings of overwhelm among members, indicating a disconnect in the hiring process where 40% of candidates feel lost navigating AI-driven recruitment.

Ruchee Anand, VP of Talent Solutions at LinkedIn Asia-Pacific, pointed out that traditional hiring approaches are outdated due to shifting skill demands, prompting the emergence of “new-collar” roles requiring a blend of technical and adaptive skills. Industry analyst Josh Bersin remarked that AI is transitioning from a productivity tool to a transformative enterprise technology, likening this shift to the evolution of cars from manual to autonomous functions.

Currently, automation could handle about 40% of HR tasks, freeing professionals to concentrate on high-value activities like coaching. LinkedIn's Hiring Assistant has exemplified this, enabling companies like Wipro and Siemens to save hours in recruitment while improving candidate engagement. As organizations embrace these advancements, the focus must shift towards nurturing a culture of creativity and adaptability, enabling employees to innovate and thrive in an evolving landscape.

Thinking Ahead–Letter from Chaille: Can AI Tools Help Solve Your Personnel and Human Resource Headaches?
by Chaille Brindley March 1, 2026 in Human Resources

Labor shortages remain a significant challenge in the pallet and sawmill industry. While many companies continue to rely on outdated HR processes, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative solution. Rather than replacing employees, AI tools can empower small management teams to operate more efficiently, providing a competitive edge.

AI's applications in HR are diverse and impactful. For instance, scripts can automate processes such as generating employee reviews by pulling data, populating templates, and emailing supervisors—streamlining administrative tasks that would usually take hours. Additionally, prompt-based AI can assist in drafting coaching outlines for employees with attendance issues, creating safety training materials, and summarizing employee survey results, thereby enhancing engagement and retention.

The real advantage comes when companies move beyond basic prompts. AI agents can handle complex tasks autonomously, such as monitoring accounts receivable and drafting reminder emails. These agents automate repetitive tasks, ensuring consistency and allowing small HR teams to operate effectively without hiring additional personnel.

For practical implementation, businesses can automate workflows by starting with clear, structured prompts and gradually integrating them into platforms like Zapier. AI can assist in myriad tasks, including resume screening, job postings, and performance reviews, saving time and resources.

Moreover, companies can leverage free resources like those from www.PalletEnterprise.com for training materials and presentations. As AI becomes more integrated into HR processes, those that adopt it thoughtfully will improve efficiency, attract top talent, and foster a culture of continuous improvement—hallmarks of lean management in the industry.

Rakesh Kumar, Vice President at EXL, has been awarded the 2026 Global Recognition Award for his significant enhancements to HR technology, particularly through artificial intelligence integration and workflow redesign, achieving a 40 percent improvement in operational efficiency within enterprise HR shared services.

Kumar’s career spans over two decades, where he has held various senior positions at leading firms including Accenture and Deutsche Bank before returning to EXL. His current role positions him at the forefront of AI-powered HR strategies. Notably, in 2026, 43 percent of organizations are leveraging AI in HR, a dramatic increase from previous years, showcasing the momentum in the industry that Kumar is leading.

One of the pivotal changes Kumar implemented was the transition to AI-enabled personalized communication frameworks, which streamlined HR interactions while enhancing employee experiences across a vast workforce. He oversaw the successful implementation of Oracle HCM and developed practical AI applications using Microsoft Copilot, moving beyond initial testing stages to achieve positive user feedback. This innovation allowed EXL to support an additional 600 employees per HR unit, purely through workflow automation and standardization, rather than increasing staff numbers.

Kumar’s dedication to a data-driven approach has fundamentally altered the perception of HR from a transactional function to a strategic business partner. His efforts emphasize proactive engagement backed by analytics, creating lasting impacts on how enterprises manage their human resources.

This recognition highlights Kumar as a leader who not only embraces technological advancements but also fundamentally reshapes organizational frameworks, making his successful strategies a model for HR leaders aiming to harness AI's potential in workforce management.