Diversity Hiring Challenges for Recruiters Using UKG (And The Solution)

Recruiters using UKG already benefit from a robust platform for managing applicants, scheduling interviews, and tracking candidate progress. However, diversity hiring challenges remain a priority across the U.S. and Canada, especially as organizations seek to build teams that better reflect the communities they serve. Even with strong systems in place, subtle and unconscious bias can influence which candidates advance—often before their skills are fully considered.

CloudApper AI Recruiter integrates seamlessly with UKG to address these challenges head-on. By applying a bias-free candidate scoring process, it ensures that every applicant is evaluated consistently and fairly, helping recruiters expand their talent pool without adding complexity to their workflow.

How UKG Users Can Overcome Diversity Hiring Challenges

Many recruiters are already leveraging UKG’s recruiting tools to streamline hiring. Yet, diversity hiring challenges often stem from factors outside the control of applicant tracking—such as bias in resume screening, inconsistent evaluation criteria, or sourcing limitations. When these issues go unaddressed, talented candidates may never reach the interview stage.

CloudApper AI Recruiter enhances UKG by automatically removing identifying details from resumes, standardizing presentation, and applying a consistent scoring matrix. This approach gives recruiters the ability to make truly merit-based selections while keeping all the advantages of their existing UKG workflows.

The Hidden Roadblocks in Achieving Diverse Hires

Even well-intentioned hiring teams can encounter barriers to diversity. These include:

Resume Screening Bias

Names, past employers, or university affiliations can trigger unconscious assumptions. Research from Harvard Business School shows that applicants with “ethnic-sounding” names are less likely to be called for interviews, even with identical qualifications.

Inconsistent Scoring Criteria

Without a structured evaluation process, two recruiters may score the same candidate differently—introducing inconsistency and bias into decision-making.

Narrow Candidate Reach

If job postings or recruitment channels don’t reach diverse audiences, the pool of applicants will naturally be less varied, making inclusive hiring more difficult.

How CloudApper AI Recruiter Enhances UKG for Fairer Hiring

By embedding directly into UKG, CloudApper AI Recruiter strengthens the recruitment process without disrupting established workflows.

Removing Identifying Details

The system strips resumes of names, educational institutions, previous employers, addresses, graduation years, and personal affiliations. This ensures that the first review is based purely on qualifications and relevant experience.

Standardizing Resume Format

All resumes are reformatted into the same structure, so differences in layout or style don’t sway decision-making. Sections such as summary, education (degree only), work history, skills, and certifications are presented uniformly.

Applying a Transparent Scoring Matrix

Recruiters can collaborate with hiring managers to define scoring criteria in advance. CloudApper AI Recruiter then applies these criteria consistently to every applicant, making the evaluation process both measurable and defendable.

Why This Matters for Recruiters Focused on Diversity

Expanding the Talent Pool

With bias removed from initial screenings, more candidates from non-traditional or underrepresented backgrounds progress to the interview stage. This increases the chances of finding the best fit for each role.

Maintaining Compliance

U.S. and Canadian employment laws prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, religion, ethnicity, and other personal attributes. A bias-free evaluation process supports compliance while reinforcing the organization’s commitment to equal opportunity.

Strengthening Organizational Performance

Research shows that companies with more diverse executive teams are 36% more likely to outperform their peers on profitability. Building diversity through fair hiring directly supports long-term success.

Candidate Experience: A Key Factor in Diversity Hiring Success

A fair and transparent process benefits candidates as much as recruiters. When applicants feel they’re being judged solely on merit, engagement rises—and drop-offs decrease.

With CloudApper AI Recruiter working alongside UKG, candidates can:

• Apply quickly via SMS or QR code

• Receive timely updates on their application status

• Engage with recruiters without unnecessary delays

Customer Success Story

One healthcare organization integrated CloudApper AI Recruiter with UKG to tackle slow response times and improve fairness in candidate evaluation.

“We went from an average of 12 days to just 72 hours from application to interview — and show-up rates increased from 40% to 70%. AI isn’t replacing our recruiters, but it’s making them far more effective and improving the overall hiring experience.”

This acceleration didn’t just improve efficiency—it also ensured a more diverse slate of candidates advanced before losing interest or accepting other offers.

Building a Sustainable Diversity Hiring Strategy with UKG + CloudApper

UKG provides a strong recruiting foundation, but adding CloudApper AI Recruiter’s bias-free candidate scoring elevates the process to meet modern diversity goals. Recruiters can maintain all the benefits of their current system while adding a layer of fairness and consistency that drives better outcomes.

When hiring decisions are based on qualifications alone, organizations are more likely to achieve the diverse, high-performing teams they envision.

Consult our experts today to see how CloudApper AI Recruiter can help you overcome diversity hiring challenges while maximizing your UKG investment.