Workers Choose People Over AI at Hiring's Most Critical Moments, New Staffmark Group Research Finds

2026 Heart of Work Index reveals four distinct workforce personas — from the "Face Timer" to the "AI Autopilot" — and shows technology helps fuel the search, while people close the deal.

CINCINNATI, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Even as artificial intelligence reshapes hiring across industries, most American workers still want a human being guiding them through the process, according to new research released today by Staffmark Group, a leading workforce solutions provider.

The first annual 2026 Heart of Work Index, based on a survey of 3,746 workers across eight industries, scored the overall hiring experience talent wants at 71 out of 100, where 0 represents an all-digital experience and 100 represents an all-human one. The result confirms what many employers have suspected, but few have quantified: when it comes to landing a job, people still want people.

The study identifies four distinct hiring personas, each reflecting a different mix of technology and human interaction. The two most human-oriented groups — nicknamed the Face Timer and the Guided Navigator in the study — together account for 60% of the workforce. The Face Timer wants a real recruiter from the very first conversation to the final offer, while the Guided Navigator is happy to let technology handle logistics as long as a person is steering the relationship. By contrast, the Almost Autonomous and the AI Autopilot — who prefer to self-serve through most or all of the process — make up a combined 40%. Only 18% of workers identify as digital-only.

Where Human Touch Matters Most
The research also pinpoints exactly where human involvement matters most. While job seekers are comfortable using technology to search for openings and build resumes, human interaction becomes the deciding factor once the stakes rise:

The gap is widest at the post-application, pre-interview stage — typically the point where anxiety about a candidate's prospects peaks — where 70% of workers prefer human-led support versus just 30% want a digitally-led experience.

"Speed and technology absolutely have their place, especially at the very top of the hiring funnel, where job seekers want to move fast and explore their options," said Stacey Lane, CEO of Staffmark Group. "But our research confirms what we've built our entire business around: the moment the stakes get real — an interview, an offer, a first day — people want a person in their corner, not a chatbot. The right approach isn't choosing between the ease and efficiency of technology and the heart of human connection. It's knowing exactly where each one belongs. That's how we help our clients compete for talent and actually win, not by replacing the human relationship, but by protecting it at the moments that matter most."

AI Impact on Workers
One of the study's biggest surprises is what workers aren't worried about. Contrary to many headlines surrounding artificial intelligence, only 29% of respondents believe AI could replace their job within the next year, and 58% say AI has not changed the way they work today. Nearly one-third (32%) report AI has positively changed their job and only 10% say it has had a negative change.

Retention Paradox
The study also surfaces a retention warning employers can't ignore. While 85% of workers report being satisfied in their current role, 43% say they're burned out and 57% say they're likely to look for a new job within six months — turnover risk that climbs to 69% in office and administrative and 63% in transportation roles. The findings reflect what organizations across industries are increasingly experiencing: satisfaction no longer guarantees loyalty.

About the Study

The 2026 Heart of Work Survey was conducted on behalf of Staffmark Group by national market data services firm, Attest, in July 2026. The survey was administered online to 3,746 workers across eight industries, including full-time, part-time, and temporary/contract workers ages 18 and older of whom represented a national survey. Click here to view the full key findings.

About Staffmark Group

Staffmark Group is one of the largest staffing companies in the United States and is a portfolio company of RGF Staffing, the Staffing SBU of Recruit Holdings. For more than 55 years, Staffmark Group has delivered the industry's widest range of tailored workforce solutions through its family of specialty brands, including Staffmark, Advantage Technical, Hunter Hamilton, Digital People, and Employee Management Services (EMS). Operating across a network of over 300 locations, Staffmark Group places over 125,000 talented individuals annually. To learn more about Staffmark Group, visit www.staffmarkgroup.com.

About RGF Staffing:

RGF Staffing is a leading global HR services provider with activities in Asia Pacific, Europe, Japan and North America. Every day around 272,000 people work for businesses and institutions via the RGF Staffing network. RGF Staffing is a part of Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. For further information please visit www.rgfstaffing.com.

SOURCE Staffmark Group