Dr Fabian Stephany
Departmental Research Lecturer
Project role: Principal Investigator
Fabian is a Departmental Research Lecturer in AI & Work at the Oxford Internet Institute.
Full project title: Hire AI – Hiring Impact of Recognised Expertise in Artificial Intelligence
Hire AI – Hiring Impact of Recognised Expertise in Artificial Intelligence explores how AI skills influence hiring decisions in modern labour markets. Through a large-scale international survey experiment with 1800 recruiters and HR professionals in the US, UK, and Germany, the project examines how the presence of AI skills on candidate CVs affects their chances of being shortlisted for interviews. Participants were presented with synthetic CVs that varied systematically in AI skill certifications — such as those acquired via online courses, training platforms, or university programmes.
The findings reveal that candidates with certified AI skills are significantly more likely to be invited for interviews. These credentials not only boost visibility in hiring processes but can also help mitigate traditional disadvantages — such as limited formal education, career transitions, or gender-related bias. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape work, the study underscores the potential of AI skills to open new pathways to employment. By highlighting the value of inclusive re-skilling initiatives and accessible certification systems, Hire AI contributes to understanding how micro-credentials and digital expertise can foster a fairer and more adaptable future of work.
AI Skills Improve Job Prospects: Causal Evidence from a Hiring Experiment
by Fabian Stephany, Ole Teutloff, Angelo Leone
Departmental Research Lecturer
Project role: Principal Investigator
Fabian is a Departmental Research Lecturer in AI & Work at the Oxford Internet Institute.
Visiting Research Fellow
Project role: Visiting Fellow
Ole an affiliated guest researcher at the Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science and is co-founder of the DWG Data Science Company,
Former Research Assistant
Project role: Research Assistant
Angelo research interests lie in AI, economics, and public policy. He currently conducts research on the labour market value of AI skills and micro-credentials.
With Dr Fabian Stephany
AI is often seen as a job killer — but our latest OII study suggests it could actually help you get hired. A new international experiment shows that AI skills significantly improve a candidate’s chances of being invited to an interview.