Indeed sees growth as AI enhances job search platform

Wall Street spent the better part of two years fretting that ChatGPT and its AI cousins would make job boards obsolete. Recruit Holdings, the Japanese conglomerate that owns Indeed and Glassdoor, just delivered the most compelling counterargument possible: record profits.

On May 15, Recruit Holdings reported its fiscal year 2025 results. Instead of cannibalizing the platform, AI tools integrated across Indeed’s services drove engagement to historic levels.

The numbers behind the AI boost

Indeed hit an all-time high for active users in March 2026. That figure represented an 18% jump compared to the same month a year earlier.

Perhaps more striking: 70% of job applications on the platform now originate from AI-driven recommendations and tools.

Recruit Holdings’ stock surged as much as 20% in Tokyo trading and climbed 7% in US sessions following the earnings release.

CEO Hisayuki Idekoba framed the dynamic as an “AI-driven virtuous cycle.” The logic works like this: better AI-powered matching means job seekers find more relevant listings, which means they engage more, which means employers see better results from their postings, which means employers are willing to pay for premium placements, which funds more AI development.

From threat narrative to growth story

Recruit introduced ChatGPT-powered capabilities across its platform in early February 2026, enhancing everything from resume optimization to personalized job recommendations.

A weak job market, strong results

The global labor market has been far from robust. In a softer market, employers are paying more per posting because the AI is delivering better applicants — a monetization story that doesn’t depend on the total number of open roles growing, but on conversion quality improving.

The subsequent quarterly update for Q1 of fiscal year 2026, released around June, reinforced the trajectory. Recruit issued upward revisions to its full-year guidance, pointing to continued momentum in its HR technology segment and ongoing gains from AI monetization.

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