Despite the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in talent acquisition, its impact on the dual metrics of recruitment efficiency and effectiveness is characterised by theoretical fragmentation. This study addresses this knowledge gap by synthesising the complex interactions between artificial intelligence technologies and resourcing practices, thereby moving beyond descriptive reporting to uncover the underlying resourcing paradox in contemporary employee relations.
Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature review of 79 peer-reviewed articles published between 2002 and 2024. We used the antecedents-phenomenon-impact framework to analyse the literature across multiple levels of analysis (individual, organisational and societal), consequently ensuring a rigorous evidence-informed synthesis.
This research identifies eight distinct factors – ranging from candidate experience and algorithmic bias to organisational performance and legal compliance – that reconfigure the artificial intelligence-recruitment nexus. We identify a critical tension: while artificial intelligence significantly enhances operational speed and data processing (efficiency), it risks alienating candidates and introducing ethical “black boxes” that compromise long-term organisational health (effectiveness).
The study offers human resource practitioners and leaders a strategic roadmap for navigating the transition to “Smart Human Resource Management”. It underscores the critical role of human–machine collaboration, proposing that optimal recruitment outcomes necessitate the integration of technical automation with human-centric judgment to preserve employer brand equity and uphold ethical integrity.
This article contributes to the artificial intelligence–human resource management literature through the development of a novel process-based antecedents-phenomenon-impact framework. By addressing a pervasive theoretical vacuum in current scholarship, it proposes a critical future research agenda centred on socio-technical systems and the preservation of the psychological contract in the age of automation.
