The right people for the right job: an accurate matchmaker based on AI

Thema:
Artificial intelligence

Diplomas do not tell the whole story – not by a long chalk. What matters much more nowadays is the skills that a person has, and how relevant those skills are in relation to what is described in a vacancy. Together with experts from the UWV Employee Insurance Agency, Statistics Netherlands, and the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, TNO showed in 2020 that artificial intelligence can help towards accurate matchmaking.

A stronger focus on skills, knowledge, and a person’s characteristics can help bring about greater balance in the labour market. Too many vacancies remain unfilled these days even though there are suitable candidates available. This is largely due to poor communications. Specifically, employers often ask about aspects that suitable candidates do not immediately recognise in themselves, and that discourages them from applying. That is a missed opportunity – for employers and employees alike.

The opportunities that come with artificial intelligence

Can we not develop an AI system that is able to translate a vacancy text? AI that is able to use such a text to highlight the relevant skills? And that is able to identify prejudice and make improvements? And which is also capable of linking candidates with the right skills to each vacancy? These questions were the starting point for a research project in 2020, in which TNO worked in close partnership with UWV, Statistics Netherlands, and the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.

Very promising demonstration tool

As the project progressed, the research questions became increasingly specific and technical. After all, building a system that can be used as a matchmaker on the labour market takes some doing, especially if it is to be effective and accurate.

At the end of 2020, the project team was in a position to produce a demonstration tool. The tool shows very clearly what can currently be achieved through the combination of artificial intelligence and ontology when it comes to linking up the right people to the right job.

Bring on the 2.0 version!

The name of the demonstration tool is, appropriately enough, Skills Matching. TNO and the other partners on the project are now focusing on the next project, Skills Matching 2.0. This will see a continuation of last year’s innovative research with not just the existing partners, but also new partners such as the Inspectorate SZW, HCA Roadmap for Top Sectors, and the O&O fondsen (training and development funds). The research is intended to lead to even more important AI innovations for use on the labour market.

Get inspired

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Innovation with AI

Informatietype:
Insight
27 September 2022

What does that world look like in concrete terms? Using numerous examples, TNO has created a prognosis for the future in Chapter 2. Regarding construction, for example, in which AI will be used to check the quality, safety, and energy efficiency of buildings before they are actually built. Or healthcare, where robots will partly take over caregivers’ tasks and AI will be able to autonomously develop medicines.

Educating AI

Informatietype:
Insight
27 September 2022

You can read about how AI is educated in Chapter 1. How can we make clear to AI which goals we want to pursue as humans? Andhow can we ensure intelligent systems will always function in service of society?

Innovating with innovation AI

Informatietype:
Insight
27 September 2022

How AI will change research itself is explained in Chapter 3. For example, what role will AI be permitted to play in knowledge sharing? And what will happen when we make machines work with insurmountably large data sets?

Arnon Grunberg on AI, creativity and morality

Informatietype:
Insight
27 September 2022

Peter Werkhoven, chief scientific officer at TNO, talks to Arnon Grunberg from his base in New York. Grunberg made his breakthrough in 1994 with his novel, Blue Mondays. He has since become one of the Netherlands’ best-known authors. The two talked about AI over dinner some years ago. Today, they finally get the chance to continue their conversation. What is Grunberg’s view on creativity? Can it be taught to machines? And how do humans morally relate to machines?

Georgette Fijneman on the promise of AI for health insurers

Informatietype:
Insight
27 September 2022

Hanneke Molema, senior consultant healthy living at TNO, interviews Georgette Fijneman, CEO of health insurer Zilveren Kruis since 2017. Both look at the same topic, health, from a completely different perspective. What is the promise of AI for one of the Netherlands’ largest health insurers?