AI, Skill Gaps and Workplace Readiness Are Reshaping Hiring, Criteria Corp's Annual Benchmark Report Finds

In survey of more than 1,000 hiring professionals, Criteria Corp's ninth annual Hiring Benchmark Report reveals employers' perspectives on the talent landscape and future of hiring

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Criteria Corp, a leading talent signal platform, today announced the release of its ninth annual Hiring Benchmark Report, revealing a hiring landscape where employers are simultaneously facing growing demand for talent and increasing uncertainty about how to find it. More than half (52%) of hiring professionals say hiring is harder in 2026, even as nearly two-thirds expect their organizations to grow headcount in the next year.

At the same time, AI and shifting expectations around workplace readiness are challenging traditional approaches to talent. More than one-third (37%) of hiring professionals say AI may be reducing the need to hire entry-level workers, while just 16% believe Gen Z is well-prepared for the workplace. The findings point to a widening disconnect between employers' talent needs, the skills they see in today's workforce and the signals they rely on to identify the right candidates.

The in-depth report offers data-driven insights from hiring professionals about the challenges employers face when identifying and attracting talent, how AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping the hiring process, how different generations are perceived in today's workplace, and what these trends could mean for the future of hiring.

"The pace of change in hiring right now is unlike anything we've seen before. AI is reshaping both sides of the talent equation simultaneously, and hiring professionals are navigating that in real time," Criteria Corp co-founder and CEO Josh Millet said. "What this year's data makes clear is that traditional talent signals are becoming increasingly difficult to trust, the skills gap is widening, and the organizations that find better ways to assess talent will be the ones that build stronger, more capable teams."

The 2026 report compiles responses from 1,027 U.S-based hiring professionals, the largest sample to date, across a wide range of industries, company sizes and roles.

Key report findings include:

• 55% of hiring professionals say finding high-quality candidates with the right skills is their biggest challenge
• 4 in 5 hiring professionals say new graduates don't have the skills employers actually need, while fewer than one in four Gen Z respondents say their own generation is ready for the workforce
• 71% are optimistic about AI in hiring, but 53% also believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates

As employers navigate a changing talent landscape shaped by AI, evolving skill requirements and generational shifts, understanding the perspectives and challenges of hiring professionals will be critical to how organizations attract, evaluate and develop talent in the years ahead.

Download Criteria Corp's ninth annual Hiring Benchmark Report here.

About Criteria Corp
Criteria Corp empowers companies of all sizes to hire and develop top talent with assessments, interviews and employee development resources that are rooted in science and designed to engage candidates, highlight potential, reduce bias and drive superior outcomes. Uncover valuable insights throughout the employee journey with a user-friendly, comprehensive suite of tools, thoughtfully designed to help companies make better talent decisions, faster.

Media Contact: Emily Degnan, [email protected]

SOURCE Criteria Corp