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Digitising talent: Rethinking recruitment and selection in the hospitality industry in the fourth industrial revolution

Author

Listed:
  • Njanjobea Isah Leontes

    (University of Johannesburg)

  • Jeremy Mitonga-Monga

    (University of Johannesburg)

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has ushered in profound transformations across global industries, with the hospitality sector increasingly challenged to adapt its human resource practices to a digitally driven operating landscape. This conceptual review explores the intersection of digitalisation, human capital development, and technological innovation in the context of recruitment and selection within the hospitality industry—focusing particularly on developing economies such as South Africa. The paper traces the evolution from traditional recruitment methods to technology-enabled practices, highlighting the strategic role of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data analytics in enhancing recruitment efficiency, selection accuracy, and workforce alignment with 4IR demands. Despite these advances, the hospitality industry continues to face structural and contextual limitations that inhibit the adoption of digital HRM systems. This article calls for a paradigm shift from conventional, analogue-based talent acquisition approaches to agile, competency-based, and digitally integrated models. The review further emphasises the critical need for policy support, infrastructural development, and empirical research that bridges the digital divide in human capital strategy. Ultimately, the paper argues that digitalisation, when strategically aligned with organisational objectives and human-centred values, can serve as a transformative lever for building resilient, future-ready workforces in hospitality and beyond. Key Words:Digital Recruitment and Selection, Human Capital Management, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Hospitality Industry

Suggested Citation

  • Njanjobea Isah Leontes & Jeremy Mitonga-Monga, 2026. "Digitising talent: Rethinking recruitment and selection in the hospitality industry in the fourth industrial revolution," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 15(1), pages 46-52, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbs:ijbrss:v:15:y:2026:i:1:p:46-52
    DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v15i1.4441
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nir Kshetri, 2021. "Evolving uses of artificial intelligence in human resource management in emerging economies in the global South: some preliminary evidence," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 44(7), pages 970-990, January.
    2. Nir Kshetri, 2021. "Evolving uses of artificial intelligence in human resource management in emerging economies in the global South: some preliminary evidence," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 44(7), pages 970-990, January.
    3. Akansha Mer, 2023. "Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management: Recent Trends and Research Agenda," Contemporary Studies in Economic and Financial Analysis, in: Digital Transformation, Strategic Resilience, Cyber Security and Risk Management, volume 111, pages 31-56, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    4. Dr. A.Varadaraj & Dr. Belal Mahmoud Al Wadi, 2021. "A Study on Contribution of Digital Human Resource Management towards Organizational Performance," International Journal of Management Science and Business Administration, Inovatus Services Ltd., vol. 7(5), pages 43-51, July.
    5. Anna Lena Hunkenschroer & Christoph Luetge, 2022. "Ethics of AI-Enabled Recruiting and Selection: A Review and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 178(4), pages 977-1007, July.
    6. Jie Zhang & Zhisheng Chen, 2024. "Exploring Human Resource Management Digital Transformation in the Digital Age," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 1482-1498, March.
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