Dive Brief:

• An industry-wide drive to improve the employee experience topped the predictions on Workforce Institute at Kronos's "2018 Global Workplace Trends" list. Other important issues for HR in the new year include people analytics and leadership development.
• Despite a recent focus on employee engagement, HR's results have generally been mediocre, Kronos authors write. HR leaders will be tasked with connecting engagement to business challenges and demonstrating the financial value of engagement to executives.
• The list also cited artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and retirement among emerging HR developments. AI can speed up time-consuming tasks, and machine learning tools should allow managers to focus more on strategic tasks. Another challenge: avoiding the brain drain created by retiring boomers, while assisting those who can't afford to retire right away.

Dive Insight:

Employee-focused priorities, diversity and inclusion among them, will almost certainly shape HR in 2018, experts told HR Dive. Engagement remains a complicated task, however, with increased demands for personalization from benefits plans, wellness programs, professional development opportunities and other facets.

Personalization is especially attractive to young workers, who are quicker to move on to greener pastures for better perks and opportunities. Their hiring and retention could be particularly challenging this year in a tight labor market. Employers will have to succeed at marketing their organization's brand and offerings, or risk losing out on scarce talent.

Keeping up with innovation to enhance workers' experience will be crucial. Employees are tech-savvy at home, where they're able to get what they need on demand, 24/7. They'll expect no less from employers.