Workers are hitting back at employer plans to use AI to screen job applications

Date:
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Description:
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham appears to support the growing discontent over AI job application screening and video-based interviews.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter 64% of Brits reject the use of AI to filter job applications, according to a new YouGov poll Meanwhile, 70% would prefer a face-to-face interview over one conducted over a video call Prime Minister Andy Burnham shared his thoughts on current hiring practices
on the Jimmy's Jobs of the Future podcast Over two thirds of people prefer face-to-face interviews to video calls, and AI job application screening is considered unacceptable by 64% of polled Brits, a poll from YouGov has found, seemingly backing up recent comments by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham concerning changes to popular hiring processes since the pandemic.

While 30% of middle class households consider it acceptable to use AI to filter applicants, this figure is much lower in working class homes at 20%. This overall reject of modernized application and interviewing practices
comes at a time when feelings about the use of AI are becoming increasingly polarized for all but the most mundane of tasks. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Britains new PM weighs in Andy Burnham: The 45 Day
Plan to Fix UK Jobs System - YouTube Watch On YouGovs poll report includes a quote from new Prime Minister Andy Burnham: AI in terms of CVs and sifting of applications. It doesnt feel to me that recruitment in the post-pandemic era is becoming fairer.

Since taking office, Andy Burnham has barely been out of the public eye, and has made various appearances, whether press conferences, TikTok, or podcasts. You may like Half of workers worry AI will still take their job, as agent usage rises Even professional CV writers are warning not to use AI to write a resume Barely any workers think their job is safe as worries about AI refuse to go away

His reaction to the polling can be contextualized in light of his appearance on careers podcast Jimmy's Jobs of the Future , stating, "One thing I really don't like is this culture now of interviewing via Zoom or Teams. How does a young person shine in that situation?"

"It seems to me to then work against people who have that side to their character and work for those who are just giving the more formulaic answer. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. The end of AI job application filtering? The YouGov poll picked a sizable sample of 4926 adults in Great Britain, with the questions issued on July 30, 2026. Of particular interest is the lack of any notable difference in the results concerning interviews across different regions. In London, the score is 60% in favor of face-to-face; for the rest
of the south it is 73%, 69% in the Midlands, in Wales, and in the North, and 73% in Scotland.

If candidates feel more comfortable with face-to-face interviews, Burnhams words may well have some impact on hiring practices in the future.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederations Maxine Bligh told the BBC that The key message from us to recruiters is to go digital where it matters and human where it counts.

AI tools are helpful, even essential, when dealing with a huge volume of applications, but it takes skill and professionalism to make the right call.

Whether the right person was ever hired by AI remains to be seen, but making candidates comfortable and able to communicate at their best seems to require people, rather than machines. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/workers-are-hitting-back-at-employer-plans-to-us e-ai-to-screen-job-applications


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