Dive Brief:
- The HR profession may not always be given its due in the business world, but according to the 2016 HR Jobs Pulse Survey from SHRM, confidence among HR pros is on the rise.
- The survey found job security highest among younger professionals, as 85% of early-career HR pros reporting confidence in job security, compared with 75% compared to all HR professionals who took part in the survey.
- Understandably, no doubt due to inexperience, early-career HR pros had less confidence in finding a new job, as 63% were "somewhat or very confident," compared with 88% of all HR professionals.
Dive Insight:
Alex Alonso, SHRM senior vice president of knowledge development, said the high confidence in job security and stability indicates that new entrants to the profession are feeling optimistic about their future as HR practitioners. According to the survey, most HR professionals expect to stay in their current position right now, with just 19% admitting to looking for a new job, either by choice or involuntarily.
Key drivers for job seekers include salary/more compensation (42%) with “better career advancement opportunities” coming in second (37%). From the employers side, just 30% were hiring for HR jobs, flat since 2015.
Among the employers hiring for HR positions, the top functions sought in hiring activity were HR generalists (49%), employment/recruitment (31%), administrative (15%), benefits (15%) and employee relations (13%).
The SHRM report signals HR pros are feeling good about their careers, and with good reason, as HR has begun to transform itself into more of a strategic business partner at more than just a handful of smart employers.
