A cutting-edge approach to staffing

Robert Half is investing in artificial intelligence and technology to fuel innovation and lead in the talent solutions industry.

In today’s complex and highly competitive job market, staffing companies must be able to act smartly, efficiently, and at scale to find and place top talent. Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions company, is leveraging advanced technology—specifically, artificial intelligence (A.I.)—to get the job done and lead as an innovator in the talent solutions space.

“Our people view us as a 75-year-old startup,” says M. Keith Waddell, president and CEO at Robert Half. “Innovation is one of our core values, along with integrity, inclusion, and commitment to success.”

Leveraging the substantial amount of proprietary candidate placement data it has accumulated over the decades, Robert Half uses A.I. to efficiently discover, assess, and select talent. The Menlo Park, Calif.–based company has more than 30 million candidates in its database, allowing it to generate a shortlist of proven candidates that match client requirements in real time. This capability enables Robert Half to conduct hundreds of thousands of talent placements annually.

”We’re delighted with how A.I. has increased the productivity of our staff,” says Waddell. “It’s helped us get better candidates in front of our clients—a win-win for everybody. A.I. clearly provides a meaningful competitive advantage for us.”

Robert Half’s A.I. tools help it better serve candidates looking for work. The company’s job search mobile app has attracted more than 1 million job seekers and made more than 3 million job recommendations since its debut in 2019. Combining A.I.-based matching with ease of use, the app has won several industry accolades, including the coveted Gold Stevie Award in 2021 and 2022. 

Winning innovation awards—including being named to the Fortune 2023 America’s Most Innovative Companies list—according to Waddell, is particularly satisfying because it reinforces the company’s image as cutting edge.

“It validates our commitment to innovation,” Waddell says. “It validates all the investments that we’ve made. Our success with A.I. and technology has benefited all our stakeholders. To be singled out as a company for its innovation is outstanding. We’re very grateful.”

Next up on Robert Half’s innovation to-do list is its new state-of-the-art website that will debut in 2023. According to Waddell, market research has shown that clients want a consistent delivery of quality talent and the choice to seamlessly interact either digitally or through recruiters, so these capabilities are the driving focus of the company’s website. A.I. and technology are making that focus possible.

“We’ve been very successful with our investments in technology,” says Waddell. “This success just reinforces our commitment to continue to innovate and do even more for our clients, our candidates, and our employees.”