New forecast predicts an improved hiring process across New Zealand workplaces
Recruitment processes in New Zealand are predicted to be faster and simpler this year due to the introduction of artificial intelligence tools, according to an expert, as ineffective hiring processes discourage jobseekers.
Neil Webster, general manager, NZ at Employment Hero, believes that the recruitment market "will finally be updated for a new world of work" in 2026.
"I firmly believe, and our experience suggests that AI-driven recruitment tools will move to standard practice to help take the legwork out of the process and allow more time for the parts that matter most," Webster said.
"Instead of spending hours on admin, employers and candidates can focus on personalised questions and interactive tools to actually get to know each other."
Hiring pain points
This prediction comes as recent Employment Hero data points to a mounting frustration among jobseekers with employers' hiring processes.
More than half of jobseekers (56%) said that they never heard back from their target companies, while others said paperwork (26%), long delays (48%), and impersonal automated rejections (40%) contribute to a disconnected hiring process.
Other pain points that jobseekers cited include:
- No salary listed (44%)
- Vague or jargon-heavy job ads (39%)
- Unrealistic skill expectations (33%)
- Algorithm-suggested jobs requiring skills they don't have (30%)
According to Employment Hero, ghost jobs are also rising in New Zealand, with 32% of jobseekers believing that they have applied for one in the past year.
"For jobseekers, applying for work has become a part-time job. I think we'll see the time it takes to get a job decrease significantly," Webster said.
Rise of fast-track HR tech
The general manager added that a "single, portable application profile" that will fast-track applications across platforms is likely to emerge.
"It's the same logic that powers the Common App in US universities, and the technology is catching up. As more employers adopt it, candidates will spend less time on repetitive admin and get more of their lives back," he said.
"2026 will be the year hiring becomes simpler, faster, and fairer for everyone involved."
Other predictions for 2026
In the same forecast, Webster also told employers to brace for major compliance changes amid a series of looming significant regulatory reforms.
These include major Holidays Act and payroll reforms, the "gateway test" for contractor classification, pay transparency rules, and dismissal claim provisions.
Employers also need to prepare for upcoming KiwiSaver changes, health and safety reforms, and Privacy Act amendments.
