Human resources hiring trends, hot jobs & top salaries: 2025
The HR talent market is as tight as ever. While recent years brought layoffs for recruiters and other human resources professionals in industries like tech, companies are interviewing more candidates and struggling to access top talent with the skills needed to impact their organizations.
The long-term HR outlook remains positive1 with expected industry growth of 10% by 2030.2 Some roles, like Human Resource Managers, are growing faster than average and 86% of talent practitioners express optimism about the future of talent acquisition.3
The most in-demand HR roles are tied to technology and data analytics to elevate staff and business operations along with adding increased efficiencies. Manufacturing and logistics are hot industries, as are legal and non-profit organizations including associations, societies, and government organizations.
HR tech is here to stay
Most businesses are turning to HR tech solutions to streamline their processes. This is crucial to create efficiency in the human resource management market which is projected to reach $56 billion by 2030.4
For every aspect of HR, from learning and performance management to applicant tracking, technology is streamlining tasks, reducing administrative costs, and improving data accuracy. HRIS systems can also play a key role in screening candidates to help employers avoid making a bad hire which can cost on average up to $18,700.5
“HR isn’t yet prepared to deliver the proper amount of value via technology and analytics; the profession must learn how to quickly adapt to new technologies if it wants to stay current.”7
Future of HR report
It’s no surprise then that HRIS roles are expected to grow 9% through 2028.6 Employers looking for HR tech candidates should continue to provide the benefit of continuous learning to prepare talent to maximize their use of a growing number of HR systems.
Data skills in demand
The demand is growing for data literate human resource professionals. Tools like talent analytics help HR managers to evaluate employees and make strategic decisions with less subjectivity, but there’s a gap between the skills needed to collect, analyze, and report on data and candidates with those skills.8
“37% of HR professionals surveyed reported data analysis as a top 5 skill required in the last 12 months of hiring.”
SHRM 2024 Talent Trends Report
Analytical acumen is a must for those aspiring to HR leadership ranks as businesses need HR leaders who can interpret and tell stories with the wide range of people data now available to departments. Addison Group has seen that upskilling may be required for candidates who want to remain competitive, and companies may need to expand their educational offerings to help close the data skills gap. Some companies are already creating more robust data analytics workshops featuring practical simulations for HR teams, and they will have an advantage over those employers who do not make that investment.
Legislation impacts hiring costs
New wage laws around the United States are making the hiring process even more challenging as employers navigate adjustments to their operational budgets. Paid leave laws took effect in California, parts of Minnesota and Illinois, and payout requirements for unused vacation time in Colorado also went into effect. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also banned noncompetes,9 although this is being challenged. HR professionals need to stay on top of these legislative changes or risk hurting the company’s bottom line and reputation. They also need to manage and administer policies that are compliant with these new laws.
Highest-paid Human Resources salaries
| VP of HR | $217,765 |
| Total Rewards Director | $184,886 |
| HR Director | $183,697 |
| Talent Acquisition Director | $183,697 |
| Recruitment Director | $173,123 |
| HRIS Manager | $161,176 |
| Compensation and Benefits Manager | $145,479 |
| Compensation Manager | $145,479 |
| Organizational Development Manager | $145,267 |
| Employee Relations Manager | $132,295 |
| Learning and Development Manager | $126,517 |
| Training Manager | $124,715 |
| Benefits Manager | $122,842 |
| HR Manager | $122,685 |
For more valuable insights and national averages of salaries across hundreds of roles in administrative, digital marketing, finance, accounting, healthcare, human resources, and information technology, download your free copy today.
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/12/29/human-resources-and-recruitment-trends-for-2024/
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/human-resources-job-outlook
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/12/29/human-resources-and-recruitment-trends-for-2024/
- https://www.trinet.com/insights/hris-trends
- https://www.higginbotham.com/blog/the-role-of-hr-technology/
- https://brainyhr.io/blog/what-is-an-hris-analyst.html#:~:text=Between%202018%20and%202028%2C%20the,job%20opportunities%20across%20the%20U.S.
- https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2023/07/12/new-report-finds-hr-industry-needs-to-prepare-for-digital-innovations
- https://www.reworked.co/employee-experience/hr-data-analytics-skills-are-in-demand-here-are-4-ways-to-upskill/
- https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2024/05/29/biden-administration-labor-regulations
