AI-Generated Resumes Are Slowing Down Hiring, Robert Half Finds

The same AI tools making it easier for job seekers to apply are creating a matching headache on the other side of the hiring desk. A new Robert Half survey of more than 2,000 U.S. hiring managers finds most say AI-generated applications have made their jobs measurably harder.

The core complaint: volume plus uncertainty

It isn't just that there are more applications to review — it's that a growing share of them are harder to trust. Generative AI tools can help candidates draft polished, keyword-matched resumes and cover letters quickly, and in some cases embellish or outright fabricate work history and skills. Hiring teams say that's forcing them to spend more time verifying claims and assessing authenticity before they can even get to a normal interview process.

Where the time is going

Robert Half's survey, released in March 2026, found the added burden isn't confined to a single stage of hiring — teams report it's slowing initial screening, verification, and the evaluation of candidates who turn out not to be qualified once questioned directly. The result, according to 84% of respondents, is HR teams that feel overworked relative to the volume they're actually equipped to review carefully.

A structural shift, not a blip

The survey's scale — more than 2,000 hiring managers — suggests this isn't an isolated complaint from a handful of companies but a broad pattern showing up across hiring teams as generative AI tools have become standard in job searches. Whether that pushes more employers toward stricter application screening, skills-based assessments, or other verification steps is likely to be one of the more consequential hiring trends to watch through the rest of 2026.

Sources: Robert Half; PR Newswire; Staffing Industry Analysts.