Using high-tech ‘dating’ algorithms to help jobseekers
Utrecht – NL, May 13, 2021. We’re all familiar with the world of online dating, where powerful algorithms match hopeful singles with their perfect match. What is less well known is that governments around the world are using this incredible AI technology to tackle rising unemployment, find the best people for jobs, and tackle and anticipate skills gaps.
As we are all too painfully aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world of recruitment, resulting in unprecedented changes to the labor market. Smart PES caseworkers are harnessing the power of these dating algorithms to strengthen their position in the labor market and boost their wider digital transformation strategy.
How it works
Rintse van der Werf, VP for the WCC Employment Solutions Business Unit explains:
“To start with, the AI technology scans the applicant’s resume and any other documents. Then, using a variety of metrics, the algorithms check the relevancy of the applicant’s skills and experience against specific criteria, including candidate location and cultural fit. Once these checks have been completed the case worker is supplied with the audited applications that best match their requirements and criteria. They can then focus on arranging interviews and assessing the best-match candidates in more depth – and ultimately find the best people for the roles.”
Less admin = better engagement with top candidates
A 2019 report revealed that only 10% of recruitment professionals were making high or very high use of AI in recruitment – but 36% of participants expected usage to be high or very high within two years.
Robots aren’t going to be taking over the world any time soon, but this powerful AI can help time-pressed PES workers with the following, and much more:
The benefits of using best-match dating algorithms
“The best-match technology helps PES professionals valuable time on bureaucracy and admin like background checks, and reviewing resumes,” says Rintse, “This means they have more time to engage with the best candidates and can cope better with shifting demand and the impact of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, PES departments can streamline processes and refine their overall hiring strategy. Furthermore, they can address skills gaps and anticipate future recruitment trends so they can mitigate skills shortages. The algorithms can even identify potential skills matches that aren’t detailed in resumes so you can really look between the lines to find people sustainable, fulfilling employment that benefits both them and their community.”
With so many skilled people out of work, the task of helping the unemployed find sustainable work is significant and complex. The pandemic labor market is constantly fluctuating and highly unpredictable. Without robust real-time insights, caseworkers will struggle to identify and act on demand. Could this technology, which was once the stuff of science fiction, be the solution to the challenges facing global public recruitment?
About Software Combined
Software Combined is an international group that invests in successful B2B tech companies with a long-term vision. The company, originally Australian, was founded by three Dutch entrepreneurs (Niek Hoogenhout, Evert den Hollander, and Stefan Jansen) and manages its European operations from Amsterdam.
Software Combined's approach differs fundamentally from traditional investors. Preserving culture and autonomy is central: acquired companies retain their own brand, management team, and daily operational independence.
Software Combined acts as a strategic partner, providing resources that support sustainable growth. These resources include capital for growth, shared expertise in international expansion, refining go-to-market strategies, and professionalizing processes.
This "buy-and-hold" strategy allows companies to focus on long-term value creation without the pressure of a forced exit. Software Combined is building a community of like-minded tech companies that want to grow.
About Avedon Capital Partners
Avedon Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm with offices in Amsterdam and Düsseldorf. Avedon supports growth companies in the Benelux and DACH regions and works closely with entrepreneurial management teams to accelerate organic growth, international expansion, and buy-and-build strategies. The investments are focussed in four core sectors: business services, software & technology, smart industry, and consumer & health.
About WCC Group
Since its founding in 1996, WCC Group has been a pioneer for nearly three decades, providing intelligent workforce solutions that fundamentally transform the way organizations connect people and jobs. From its headquarters in Utrecht (Netherlands) and a strategic offce in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), WCC Group serves public employment services, staffng agencies, and large enterprises globally.
The company offers two solutions: Employment Solutions support public employment services and staffng agencies in matching candidates with jobs or training, while its HR Solutions simplify talent retention and internal talent management for large enterprises to reduce external recruitment and onboarding costs.
At the core of these solutions is the cloud-native ELISE Search & Match Platform, delivering meaningful, ranked results within a second. WCC Group's software impacts half a billion people daily and powers large-scale labor market initiatives worldwide, including MyFutureJobs in Malaysia (300,000+ job seekers, 30,000+ employers) and the recruitment activities of Robert Half in the United States, where it has established the company's reputation for innovation and effciency.