AI-Based Recruitment and Its Impact on Recruitment Effectiveness: Insights from Small and Medium Enterprises in Vietnam

The current research examines how artificial intelligence (AI) adoption shapes recruitment outcomes among Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises. Building on the Technology Acceptance Model and Person–Job Fit theory, it proposes and tests a structural framework connecting AI-based recruitment, perceived usefulness, trust in AI, person–job fit, and recruitment effectiveness. Data collected from 350 enterprises were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The analysis reveals that AI utilization enhances hiring efficiency and quality through the mediating influences of perceived usefulness, trust, and candidate–job compatibility. The results underscore AI’s dual contribution as both a technological driver and a behavioral catalyst within digital human resource management, offering insights for organizations advancing HR digital transformation.