A new Equifax survey reveals that nearly three-quarters of HR professionals encounter challenges with fabricated or misleading candidate information. Based on responses from more than 350 HR executives and professionals at the SHRM 2026 Annual Conference, 73% of respondents reported such challenges, with half citing issues with employment history and more than one-third encountering problems with education, credentials, or licenses. The survey also highlights AI's dual role: while 78% say AI improves hiring and onboarding efficiency, 36% report that AI-generated candidate content has reduced their confidence in hiring decisions. Confidence in detecting fabricated information rose to 69% from 63% last year, though only 24% are very confident. Employee experience remains the top workforce management challenge at 63%, and compliance concerns increased to 27% from 23% in 2025.
Equifax IncSurvey highlights HR professionals' need for verification services, boosting demand for Equifax's background check and employment screening products.