Artificial intelligence has been the hottest topic in the business world for the past two years. Companies are announcing billions of dollars in investments, employees are trying to learn the new tools, and managers are racing to keep up with this transformation. However, amidst this great excitement created by the technology, there is an interesting fact that is being overlooked: While companies are investing more in technology, employees are turning to more human expectations. In other words, the business world is moving along two different axes. On one side, there is the pursuit of speed, automation, and efficiency. On the other, there is the pursuit of trust, balance, and meaning. Therefore, the real question for companies is no longer how advanced artificial intelligence will become, but how they will put people at the center when using this technology. The recently published PageGroup “Global Talent Trends 2026” research reveals precisely this transformation. The research, which included more than 60,000 people from 36 sectors, shows that recruitment processes are rapidly changing, but people are still at the center of the decisions.
According to the research, 71% of candidates use artificial intelligence in job applications, while 62% of hiring managers utilize AI in candidate evaluation processes. In other words, both candidates and employers are now using the same technology. Interestingly, however, as technology becomes more widespread, trust, judgment, and interpersonal skills are gaining more importance. One of the striking findings of the research is the shift in the approach to hiring. For many years, graduating from good universities and having a strong resume were considered the most important advantages in a career. Today, companies are looking at things differently: competencies. According to the research, 27% of employers now prioritize skills over educational background or work experience. A significant portion of hiring managers say that their biggest challenge is finding candidates with the right competencies.
This is actually not surprising. Because technology is changing so rapidly that knowledge acquired a few years ago can quickly become outdated. In fields such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital transformation, the learning process no longer ends with graduation. On the contrary, it's turning into a journey that continues throughout a career. For companies, the real competition will not be in buying technology, but in discovering and developing the right talent. Perhaps the most striking result of the research is the change in employees' priorities. For many years, salary, career opportunities, and job security were seen as the decisive criteria in job selection. Today, however, work-life balance is surpassing all these factors in many countries.
According to the research, 29% of professionals see work-life balance as the most important criterion when choosing a job. Even more remarkable, 90% of employees list it among their top five priorities. 42% of those considering changing jobs are worried that the new job will disrupt their work-life balance. This rate has even surpassed concerns about salary or career development. Actually, we're not just talking about working hours here. People no longer want to define their lives solely through work. Perhaps the most important message of the research lies here. The business world will continue to talk about artificial intelligence, automation, and new technologies. However, what will differentiate companies will be not only the technology itself, but also how they use it.
What should be done?
●Using artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance human decision-making power, rather than replacing humans.
●Focusing on learning capacity and skills as much as diplomas and past experience.
●Viewing work-life balance not as a fringe benefit, but as a fundamental element of company culture.
●Being more transparent about salary, flexibility, and expectations in recruitment processes.
●Creating learning and development environments where employees can acquire new skills. Perhaps the real question facing the business world is how to maintain the human element within this technological transformation. Because as technology advances rapidly, employee expectations are evolving to a more humane point.
