Indeed
AI systems reflect real-world biases, and these biases can have serious consequences. Left unchecked, AI has the potential to build a future workforce that is less inclusive, less diverse, and that sustains barriers to entry for disadvantaged groups. But, when used responsibly, AI can shape the future of work for the better. It can counteract the very biases and barriers that job seekers face today. Indeed has made significant steps to reduce inequalities in hiring, and its responsible AI practices are committed to making work better and more equitable for all — while keeping humans central to the hiring process.
Using AI's potential to tackle bias
Unconsciously baked biases in AI can trickle down to every aspect in life. In a recent experiment intended to gauge the level of inherent bias in the tool, Bloomberg asked an AI to generate images related to job titles and crimes. When the AI was asked to generate images of fast food workers, 70% of the results were of people with darker skin tones, even though 70% of fast food workers in the US are white. When it was asked to generate images of doctors, women only made up 7% of the results.
"The algorithm can determine whether you qualify for a loan, how you're treated by the criminal justice system, or whether or not you score a job interview," LaFawn Davis, Indeed's SVP of environmental, social, and governance, said. She referred to a multinational e-commerce company whose hiring algorithm penalized job applicants that had earned degrees from historically women's colleges. That's because their machine learning models, she explained, were trained on historical data that skewed heavily male.
Since 2020, Indeed has been exploring the potential positive applications of AI along with its ethical implications. In that time, the company has developed an in-house responsible AI team."When you use Indeed's matching and hiring platform, you're using tools that were built with equity in mind. We're on our own journey with equitable hiring, and are continuously evaluating and redesigning our hiring processes with a lens of inclusion," Davis said. "We're adopting best practices as we learn — and we're committed to driving change across fair chance hiring, accessibility, skills-based hiring, and economic security."
Higher-education requirements is one area where AI can level the playing field for job seekers and help employers find quality talent. With 62% of Americans over the age of 25 lacking a college degree, millions of job seekers are using search terms like "no college degree required" when looking for jobs on Indeed.
Hiring for skills has been proven to be five times more predictive of job performance than hiring for education, and more than two times more predictive than hiring for work experience alone. And yet, millions of Americans are automatically screened out of the recruiting process when an employer requires a college degree.
Millions of job seekers who are "skilled through alternative routes" are missing out — as are employers when looking for exceptional talent. Indeed's skill connect makes it easier for job seekers to represent the skills and training they have received through hands-on technical and professional job training programs, and then matches them with the employers who need them. Additionally, Indeed is developing AI tools to help recruiters "screen in" candidates, Davis said, detecting "skills in their resumes that may not have been initially considered."
Indeed is exploring the potential of AI to assist job seekers in other ways, such as AI-driven chat-based search tools and AI-driven career coaches or career pilots. Employers and recruiters who use Indeed's AI job description generator can save time for the more human aspects of hiring. AI can also encourage pay transparency by reviewing wages and salaries at your company, and ensure that employers offer fair base compensation for new roles.
Keeping humans central to human resources
While AI can do a lot, it can't do everything – nor should it. Some 71% of Americans oppose the use of AI in making final hiring decisions. "Most US workers don't want robots having the final say," Davis said, emphasizing the importance of keeping humans central to human resources, especially when it comes to determining hiring outcomes.
Indeed has made a commitment to help 30 million job seekers who are facing barriers find jobs by 2030. The key to shaping a better world of work alongside AI is to take action. "None of us knows with any certainty what the future holds, but if we all start incrementally building today toward a better tomorrow, we're moving in the right direction," Davis said. "When we work together, we have a greater chance of ensuring that job seekers facing bias and barriers aren't left behind."
Learn more about how Indeed is using AI to power the hiring and job seeking process.
This post was created by Indeed with Insider Studios.