AI’s friendlier, faster approach to hourly hiring

More than half of U.S. workers (56%) are paid hourly. They’re childcare providers, baristas, maintenance teams, and sales associates—the people who keep our day-to-day lives (and our businesses) moving.

They’re essential, yes. Yet, hiring (and keeping them) has always been a struggle. Why is that?

The truth is, the systems built to hire hourly talent are antiquated and broken—and they have been for years. Processes are slow, frustrating, and often inefficient—not just for recruiters, but for candidates too.

And they both deserve better.

Today’s recruiting tools are dismantling old barriers and creating pathways that work for everyone. Candidates quickly get noticed for their skills, recruiters focus on forming important relationships, and the entire experience feels more human.

So, where has traditional hourly hiring fallen short, and how are AI-hiring solutions fixing it? Let’s break it down.

Overwhelming applicant volume

Hourly job posts are often met with a flood of applications. In the past, parsing through every single application was overwhelming at best, and honestly, a surefire way to miss good candidates.

How AI solves this problem: Tools, like Conversational AI, can quickly evaluate a candidate’s strengths and match them with hourly roles that fit their skills. If they meet the pre-screening requirements, they’re automatically advanced to the next step. This kind of seamless communication not only saves recruiters hours of manual work but also keeps candidates engaged and moving forward in the process.

• Match & apply: Our agent interacts with candidates like a human would—think of it like a personal assistant. Remember, finding a job can be incredibly overwhelming, and while other chatbots match candidates based on job titles alone, ours can match the skills candidates have learned from past experiences and suggest roles they could fit. Then, our assessments and structured interviewing can take it a step further to validate those skills. 

Slow hiring

Slow hiring is a direct result of too many applicants and no efficient way to address them all. Hiring teams are met with hundreds—sometimes thousands—of applications and are not equipped to digest every single application, find that shining star, and get them hired fast.

How AI solves this problem: Candidates no longer have to wait weeks to hear if they made it to the next stage of the hiring process. With AI-hiring workflows, hiring teams can automatically invite candidates to assess, schedule interviews, and even complete an on-demand interview—all at a time that best fits their schedules. This means they’re sped through the process without having to wait on a recruiter to make the next move.

High turnover

With all the inefficiencies in traditional hourly hiring, it only makes sense that the rotating door of hourly employees is always moving. Not only is this discouraging for hourly workers, but the constant need to hire is exhausting for hiring teams.

How AI solves this problem: The solution is simple: match candidate skills to the right roles. When candidates shine in a role, they feel fulfilled and are more likely to stay. Tools, like Hirevue’s Find My Fit, connect applicants to roles aligned with their strengths and interests, often revealing jobs where candidates excel but may have never previously considered them as options.

Inconsistent and biased hiring decisions

When screening or interviewing is not structured, the door is left wide open for bias and inconsistency. Without the right guardrails in place, hourly hiring teams can unintentionally favor candidates who mirror their current team—often overlooking a broader, more diverse pool of qualified people.

How AI solves this problem: If structure is the name of the game, then structured interviews and AI-backed assessments are exactly what hiring teams need. Instead of allowing the evaluator’s opinions to seep in, these tools look at candidates based solely on skills and competencies, helping teams make fair decisions and find the best-fit candidates quickly.

A poor candidate experience

A slow, inconsistent hiring process doesn’t just cost companies good people. It leaves candidates feeling undervalued from the very start. 

How AI solves this problem: AI-powered workflows have revolutionized the way recruiters spend their time—shifting them from countless hours managing each stage of the hiring funnel to a process that runs largely on its own. As a result, candidates stay informed at every step, experiencing a faster, more personal journey that makes them feel seen and valued from the very first interaction to the final decision.

Ready to make hourly hiring easier?

If you’re serious about tackling your biggest challenges in hourly hiring, it’s time to try a new approach. Hirevue’s Hourly Hiring Disrupted Guide offers a look at how AI has modernized hiring as a whole and shows real-world examples of teams that have successfully improved their hourly hiring process.

Download the guide today and see what’s possible when you bring the right tools into your hourly hiring.