Indian employers reported the highest rate of discovered identity fraud among candidates and employees across markets in a new YouGov study commissioned by background screening firm HireRight, pushing workforce trust higher on the recruitment priority list.
Nearly three in four (74%) Indian HR and recruitment decision-makers said they uncovered identity fraud among candidates or employees during 2025, HireRight said. The survey polled 1,061 senior decision-makers across multiple global markets between 18 February and 6 March 2026, including 233 from Indian organisations with 500 or more employees.
Finding qualified talent (33%), attracting candidates willing to work full-time or in a hybrid model (31%), and integrating AI into recruitment processes (30%) are among the leading talent acquisition challenges Indian employers expect to face this year, the research said.
More than half (52%) expect AI to result in additional hiring as organisations seek candidates with new skills. India also recorded the highest rates of AI adoption by HR teams and acceptance of candidate AI use across the markets surveyed, per HireRight.
“As employer requirements evolve, recruitment is likely to have a growing focus on identifying capability, verifying candidate information, and making confident decisions at pace,” said Disha Joshi, Senior Director of International GTM at HireRight. “For Indian employers competing for in-demand talent, the ability to combine technology with trusted workforce data will become more important in building the workforce they need for growth.“
On screening priorities, brand reputation (39%), strengthening workplace safety (36%), and identifying behaviours that conflict with corporate values (36%) were cited as key risks that pre-employment screening is intended to help mitigate.
Almost half (49%) of respondents identified accuracy and quality of results as among the most important considerations when selecting a screening provider, followed by candidate experience (36%) and speed (32%). More than nine in ten (93%) said contingent workers are screened before beginning work.
“As hiring becomes faster and more automated, confidence in the people and information behind every hiring decision becomes increasingly important,” Joshi added. “For HR leaders, this means ensuring hiring strategies can keep pace with technological and workforce change, while maintaining robust standards for candidate verification, workforce integrity, and compliance.”
