Dive Brief:
- According to an analysis from Bloomberg BNA, HR jobs are losing traction within the U.S.
- In its HR Department Benchmarks and Analysis 2015-2016 report, Bloomberg reports that the median ratio of HR staff to total employee headcount declined to 1.1 full-time equivalent HR employees for every 100 workers served by the HR department, down from a record high of 1.3 human resource staff members per 100 workers in 2014 and 2013.
- On the spending front, the median budgeted change in HR department funding is 4.2%, relatively flat compared to recent years and well up from the 2009-2011 recession levels, but still far below 1998 to 2007 levels, where median changes were on average 5% or higher.
Dive Insight:
Apart from the HR job opportunity and budget findings, Bloomberg BNA found that recruitment and retention remain at or near the top of most HR professionals' agendas, with nearly nine out of ten respondents saying that hiring and keeping employees are "extremely or very important." Controlling healthcare costs was cited by roughly three-quarters of respondents, down from 86% four years ago.
"Improvements in the job market over the past year have led to workforce growth that has outpaced HR department staffing levels," said Tony Harris, managing editor of Human Resource Publications at Bloomberg BNA. "This means that HR departments are being tasked with supporting more employees, potentially putting a strain on organizational resources."
