HCM Talent Technology Roundup July 21, 2023

As candidates grow leery of the high cost of college, employers are recognizing the standalone value of alternative credentials. Nearly half of recruiters, 48%, say efforts such as coding boot camps or certification programs can sometimes be a worthy substitute for a degree. Segments such as IT, sales and customer service prioritize professional certifications as the most valuable credentials, according to research by Capterra. In the last year, 41% of employers removed college degree requirements from their job openings. Nearly three-quarters of recruiters, 74%,  said the move was meant to make their hiring process more equitable, while 53% said they’ve had success hiring good employees who don’t have college degrees.

Upwork expanded its platform to include AI offerings and resources. Most notably, the company added an AI services hub to connect businesses with independent AI professionals. With it, Upwork said, companies can more easily find and hire independent talent for their AI projects, including consultants, researchers, developers and engineers.

Daxtra announced a majority growth investment from Strattam Capital, alongside founders and co-owners Andrei Mikheev and Steven Finch. Daxtra will use the investment to meet customer demand in North America while continuing to offer solutions and support to its global customer base. Last year, the company said, it helped some 2,500 clients evaluate more than 1 billion resumes in 40 different languages.

ShiftPixy unveiled its “Instant Interview” feature, which allows gig workers to record short video interviews via their phone. The video will then be viewable by managers on the user’s profile. With it, the company hopes to help employers screen and clear hourly candidates more quickly.

Berlin-based HiPeople launched new AI-powered products designed to help employers in their talent acquisition efforts. The solutions help TA teams create job-specific pre-employment assessments and reference checks, increasing efficiency and enhancing the quality of hires, the company said.

Around 27% of the labor market, representing more than 40 million workers, reported actively pursuing a new job or career change during the past 90 days, according to research from CompTIA. In addition, the trade group’s study found that among those seeking new employment, nearly 40% characterized the current job market as very strong.

A slowly increasing number of corporations are pressuring technology vendors to base their pricing on performance as opposed to set subscription or per-user fees. That, and an increasing concern about technology budgets, is forcing vendors to endure conversations about being more flexible in their pricing, said The Wall Street Journal.

By Mark Feffer

Mark Feffer is executive editor of RecruitingDaily and the HCM Technology Report. He’s written for TechTarget, HR Magazine, SHRM, Dice Insights, TLNT.com and TalentCulture, as well as Dow Jones, Bloomberg and Staffing Industry Analysts. He likes schnauzers, sailing and Kentucky-distilled beverages.