Talent News Round-Up: Clickwork, The End of Recruiting, and In-Demand Jobs
Staying updated on the latest workforce trends is crucial for TA leaders and HR professionals. This week, we delve into three significant developments shaping the talent landscape and get SocialTalent’s CEO, Johnny Campbell’s first-hand takes on these pieces.
- Rest of World: Venezuelan migrants who relied on digital gig work are now being displaced by AI, facing shrinking demand and deepening economic uncertainty.
- Kevin Wheeler: AI won’t just reshape recruiting—it may eliminate most of it, pushing recruiters to radically evolve or risk irrelevance.
- LinkedIn: Healthcare, food service, and delivery roles are booming in early 2025, while demand for traditional desk jobs continues to slide.
Join us as we explore these pivotal insights and their implications for the future of work.
1. Venezuelan Migrants Relied on Clickwork to Survive. Now AI is Replacing Them
Source: Rest of World
Venezuelan migrants once relied on digital crowdwork, such as tagging AI data and SEO writing, to survive economic collapse. However, the rise of generative AI has sharply reduced these opportunities, replacing low-level tasks and depressing wages. While more complex AI work exists, it remains largely inaccessible due to poor infrastructure and outdated equipment. Many migrants now face deep uncertainty, struggling to adapt or being forced to abandon digital work altogether as demand continues to shrink.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“This article is a wake up call about the real threat to white collar jobs posed by AI. I personally believe things will balance out over time but in the short to medium term, a lot of professional workers like those highlighted in this article, will lose their jobs or face falling pay rates.“
2. The End of Recruiting: Why AI Won’t Just Change Your Job – It Will Eliminate It
Source: Kevin Wheeler
Kevin Wheeler argues that AI isn’t just changing recruiting—it’s eliminating it. As AI reshapes work, traditional recruiting tasks like sourcing, screening, and networking are becoming obsolete. Wheeler debunks myths that productivity, human judgment, or relationships will save recruiters, noting that AI can now replicate and often outperform these functions. He urges recruiters to reinvent themselves by specializing, coaching, advising, or auditing AI tools, warning that merely learning AI won’t be enough to stay relevant.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“Kevin has always had a keen eye for the future and this prediction will scare many recruiters. The fact is that he is both right and wrong. He’s right that most jobs in recruiting will disappear. I think it will take longer than most people think but it is inevitable. However, if you get to the end of the article, you see Kevin admitting that the role of recruiter has to evolve and it’s this evolution that will save many of the roles. I’ve been saying this for nearly a decade and now the time has come!“
3. The Most In-Demand Jobs on LinkedIn Right Now
Source: LinkedIn
LinkedIn’s Q1 2025 data shows surging demand for healthcare and food service workers, with roles like restaurant specialists, dentists, and delivery drivers seeing the fastest growth. Software engineers, nurses, and salespeople remained the most in-demand overall. Notably, truck drivers jumped 15 spots into the top 10, highlighting global shortages. The analysis offers a pre-tariff glimpse into labor market trends, with future volatility expected following April’s trade disruptions.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“I love these quarterly reports from LinkedIn. If you look back at the trends in recent years you can really see how “standing up” roles have surged forwards while many desk jobs or “sitting down” jobs have begun to decline. AI is no doubt a major influencer, as is the demographics of the western world where we see healthcare jobs continuing to rise in demand. Don’t expect this to change anytime soon!“
