Technology Automation is a Top Challenge for Half of HR Professionals, Equifax Survey Finds

Additional Findings Highlight Challenges with Fabricated Resume Information, Speed-to-Hire and Onboarding

ATLANTA, Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Equifax^® (NYSE:EFX) survey shows that human resources (HR) leaders are facing challenges using technology innovation to their advantage when it comes to attracting, onboarding, and retaining top talent. The survey polled over 250 HR executives and professionals on the ground at the SHRM25 Conference and found that 50% of HR professionals report one of their top challenges is using technology to automate workflows.

"As AI and emerging technologies proliferate, HR professionals increasingly want to automate the time-intensive aspects of their days so they can free up more time to focus on the human-first parts of their jobs that lead to more successful employee engagement and retention programs," said Chris Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Employer Services, Equifax Workforce Solutions. "As technology changes the way work is completed, everything comes down to your people. HR teams know this, and that's why they're prioritizing the use of technology to help automate routine and manual processes so they can streamline tasks for their own teams while also simplifying and enhancing experiences for the employees they serve."

Fabricated or Misleading Resumes Remain Prevalent 

The current job market has proved difficult for many job seekers, leading some to embellish or altogether fabricate their experience or credentials. According to the survey,  71% of HR professionals have encountered fabricated or misleading candidate information in the hiring process.

These issues were most commonly reported in employment history, educational background and credentials/licenses. Despite the frequency in which fraudulent information is appearing in job applications and resumes, only 1 in 5 (20%) HR professionals are "very confident" about their ability to detect fabricated or misleading candidate information.

"Our survey shows that HR is facing new challenges with the prevalence of misleading candidate information in the age of AI-generated resumes," said Bart Lautenbach, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Talent Solutions for Equifax Workforce Solutions. "Employers may think they have found a well-qualified candidate, only to learn after a comprehensive background check that this person was significantly exaggerating their experience. Making this mistake can be extremely costly, and organizations can leverage automated employment verifications to help deliver greater ROI on their hiring processes."

HR leaders know that a bad hire can be costly. With a background check process that includes verifications of employment, education, and criminal history, hiring teams can help ensure a better quality hire. In addition, Equifax research indicates a strong correlation between past and future job tenure. Candidates who frequently left jobs within 60 days repeated this pattern, while those with longer previous tenures were more likely to stay.

HR professionals see room for improvement in speed-to-hire and onboarding

While speed-to-hire is a key metric for many HR organizations, less than 12% of HR professionals report that their organizations consistently hire candidates quickly. Slower hiring is not just frustrating for the candidate and hiring team, it can lead to companies missing out on top talent, which can have a real impact on business performance and team morale. Similarly, 83% of HR professionals see room for some improvement in their organization's onboarding process.

With innovative technologies, HR teams can help automate key components of the onboarding process, including onboarding and other forms, so they can help improve the new hire experience while keeping up with ever-changing regulatory and compliance demands. With real-time data and automation, HR teams can better ensure they are following important protocols, including background checks and other verifications, allowing them to help improve speed and accuracy.

Many HR professionals are already taking initiative and looking for ways to incorporate AI and automation into their workflows and address these challenges. Specifically, 76% of survey respondents reported using AI to help improve efficiency in hiring and onboarding. However, many HR teams are likely only scratching the surface in leveraging AI to help drive hiring and onboarding efficiencies, placing an increased importance on HR technology vendors to provide expertise and novel solutions. 

Methodology

Equifax surveyed attendees at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego between June 29 – July 1, 2025 to get their opinions on trends in hiring and onboarding. Only the 254 responses from HR professionals and HR leaders/senior executives were included in the survey results.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.
At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Dan Jenkins for Equifax Workforce Solutions
[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.