The biggest trend set to change how recruiters hire in the UK this year is diversity, according to LinkedIn’s 2018 Global Recruiting Trends report.

Per the report, 82% of UK hiring managers see diversity as the top trend for 2018. This was followed by reinventing the interview process (49%), data usage (38%) and artificial intelligence (28%).

The data from LinkedIn showed that companies now see having a diverse workforce directly correlating with improved culture (78%) and a boosted company performance (62%).

Meanwhile, 49% of UK respondents said that changes to interview techniques are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ important to the future of hiring, making way for a new-age interview process. Moreover, the biggest problems for talent leaders are assessing a candidate’s soft skills (63%), understanding their weaknesses (57%) and interviewer bias (42%).

LinkedIn’s report stated that in 2018, new tools set to emerge will help to revolutionise the process, including virtual reality assessments (28%), meeting in casual settings (53%) and job auditions (54%).

According to LinkedIn, most professionals in the industry use data in their jobs now, but this is set to rise in 2018 with 38% seeing it as one of the most important factors in the hiring process. Over two thirds, or 64%, are currently making use of data for things like increased retention, evaluating skills and building better offers - but within the next two years, 79% are likely to be using data in their hiring process, suggesting an even greater reliance on it.

LinkedIn’s report also showed that 28% of UK respondents said AI is the most important trend for 2018, helping them source, screen and nurture candidates, saving time and helping to remove any human bias. While AI can replace some processes, 14% think it will eliminate the recruiter’s job altogether; building relationships, seeing candidate potential and judging culture fit are amongst the top skills AI is least likely to replace.

“Over the past few years, hiring talent has become a repetitive, and sometimes transactional, process,” Jon Addison, Head of Talent Solutions at LinkedIn UK, said. “But there is a shift happening, and these emerging trends are helping to elevate recruitment to a more strategic profession that focuses on the most important and gratifying parts of the job - the human part and thinking critically about how to win the right talent.”