HR conference planning for 2025 is in full swing and the year’s events promise to tackle some of the largest shifts in the industry. Major issues on the agenda include artificial intelligence in the workplace, skills-based hiring, the ever-evolving employment law landscape and more.
Industry-specific events — conferences for HR professionals working in education, healthcare and manufacturing, for example — are planned as well. These events often feature case studies and networking opportunities that focus on individual fields.
Below are some of these notable conferences for 2025. We’ll update this list as more information is announced, so keep an eye on our newsletters.
Top HR conferences in 2025
LEAP HR: Higher Education
Jan. 27-29
Atlanta, Georgia
This conference aims to connect senior leaders who work at higher education institutions and focuses on networking and sharing best practices.
Talent Acquisition Week
Feb. 3-6
San Diego, California
At Talent Acquisition Week, organizers say TA professionals will learn to “leverage emerging recruiting practices” and make the most of candidate engagement.
LEAP HR: Retail
Feb. 24-26
For Lauderdale, Florida
This program intends to highlight how HR leaders in retail are creating a resilient workforce, including reinventing engagement strategies and closing skill gaps. There are plans to feature 20+ real-world case studies from those who are “rewriting the rules of retail talent.
HR Data Analytics and AI Summit
March 4-5
Atlanta, Georgia
Focused on the “intersection of HR, Data Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence,” this conference promises to bring together tech experts, industry leaders and “forward-thinking practitioners” to explore case studies and discuss strategy.
NELI Employment Law Briefing
March 9-12
Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida
An advanced-level program for attorneys and human resource professionals, NELI will bring together leading employment law experts to analyze legal developments and their practical application and implications in the workplace.
HRWest
March 11-12
Oakland, California
HRWest emphasizes HR education and networking in the Western United States.
Transform
March 17-19
Las Vegas, Nevada
Transform, as the name suggests, focuses on “transformative change” in workplaces and work culture, featuring speakers from big-name companies across various industries. The conference has a particular focus on entrepreneurs and startups.
Labor & Employment Law Advanced Practices Conference
March 19-21
Las Vegas, Nevada
This is an employment law conference aimed at HR professionals. Topics include relevant laws, regulation and court rulings.
SHRM Talent
March 24-26
Nashville, Tennessee
SHRM Talent 2025 will focus on integrating skills development into a company’s talent management strategy.
Rethink HR Tech
March 25-27
Chicago, Illinois
This future-of-work conference will have sessions on digital transformation, maintaining a global workforce, remote work and more.
LEAP HR: Energy
April 28-30
Houston, Texas
The event promises to bring together HR leaders from the energy sector who are rethinking how to empower their workforce and drive business success in an industry undergoing rapid transformation.
DMEC Compliance Conference
April 14-17
Columbus, Ohio
Targeted for absence and disability professionals, this conference offers networking opportunities and sessions led by industry experts.
LEAP HR: Life Sciences West
April 22-24
San Francisco, California
The program intends to showcase how established biopharma organizations are coping with volatility in the industry while also engaging in future workforce planning.
HRO Today Forum North America
April 30-May 2
San Antonio, Texas
This conference claims to be “the only truly global event series for HR executives” and will include the annual CHRO of the Year award.
LEAP HR: Healthcare
May 19-21
Houston, Texas
LEAP HR: Healthcare intends to connect stakeholders working to solve the HR crisis in healthcare. Attendees will discuss: transforming employee wellbeing to address caregiver burnout; revitalising their recruitment strategy; and trialling new AI technologies to boost efficiency and decrease costs.
California HR Conference
May 4-6
Anaheim, California
The 2025 California HR Conference aims to help HR professionals navigate the state’s notoriously complex regulations, and elevate their positions at work.
Unleash America Conference & Expo
May 6-8
Las Vegas, Nevada
Billing itself the “International Festival of HR,” Unleash America focuses largely on HR tech and innovations as well as upskilling for HR pros.
Workhuman Live
May 12-15
Denver, Colorado
Workhuman has said it strives to prioritize “meaningful conversations” and “delightful experiences” over sales or fanfare at its conference.
HR in Hospitality Conference
May 13-15
San Diego, California
Produced by Cornell University, this conference features speakers who work in HR at leading hotels as well as employment law attorneys who focus on the hospitality industry.
Payroll Congress Convention Expo
May 13-16
Kissimmee, Florida
Attendees can choose from more than 100 workshops and three general sessions. The conference also features networking events and an expo.
ATD International Conference & Expo
May 18-21
Washington, D.C.
L&D professionals will share best practices and discuss industry trends. Attendees also can network with peers and visit the expo floor.
WorldatWork Total Rewards
May 19-21
Orlando, Florida
In previous years, this conference has covered culture, pay equity, emerging regulations, transparency and sustainability.
NCDA Global Career Development Conference
June 18-20
Atlanta, Georgia
This conference caters to career development practitioners, facilitators, counselor educators, counselors, and specialists; a business constituency group participates as well.
The Conference Board CHRO Summit
June 24
New York, New York
Exclusively for CHROs, discussions for the summit include the CHRO’s role as board influencer and board member, HR’s role in empowering tech transformations, and culture and inclusion as growth drivers.
Future of Work USA
June 11-12
New York, New York
From workplace design to upskilling, Future of Work aims tackle every aspect of work with three key buckets: future learning, future workplace and future talent.
SHRM Annual Conference
June 29-July 2
San Diego, California
SHRM's major annual conference features HR seminars, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities. In-person and virtual options are available.
LEAP HR: Logistics & Transportation
July (specific dates TBD)
TBD
In 2024, attendees learned how their peers are tackling an intensifying hourly workforce crisis and upskilling their existing workforces in an increasingly automated and digitalized environment.
LEAP HR: State & Local Government
July (specific dates TBD)
TBD
For 2024, the conference touted using out-of-the-box and private-sector thinking to attract, retain and inspire public workers. Specific topics include total rewards strategy and preparing for retirement of existing workers. Attendees can expect panel discussions, case studies and networking opportunities.
LEAP HR: Life Sciences East
Aug. (specific dates TBD)
TBD
2024’s theme centered employee engagement and retention as a means of safeguarding employers in the industry. Attendees can expect panel discussions, case studies and networking opportunities and an expo floor.
DMEC Annual Conference
Aug. 4-7
National Harbor, Maryland
DMEC helps employers with the compliance and culture aspects of leave and disability accommodations.
LEAP HR: Manufacturing
September (specific dates TBD)
TBD
2024’s event focused on upskilling, engaging and retaining front-line production workers and managing a labor-intensive, highly-skilled workforce. Attendees can expect panel discussions, case studies and networking opportunities.
HRO Today Talent Acquisition Summit
Sept. 10-11
San Diego, California
This conference describes itself as a dive deep into cutting-edge strategies for recruiting top-tier talent.
HR Technology Conference and Exhibition
Sept. 16-18
Las Vegas, Nevada
Going on 25 years, HR Tech is known for its expo hall and learning sessions based on developments in (of course) HR technology and how it intertwines with talent management and beyond.
SHRM Women in Leadership Institute
Sept. 28-Oct. 1
San Diego, California
The Women in Leadership Institute is designed to help women leaders overcome obstacles in the workplace.
LEAP HR: Construction
October (specific dates TBD)
TBD
The 2024 event focused on managing succession planning, closing the skills gap for managers and crafting senior leadership benches.
HRSouthwest
Oct. 12-14
Fort Worth, Texas
This conference is a large regional event. It advertises learning opportunities and networking alongside an expo floor.
SHRM Inclusion
Oct. 26-29
Louisville, Kentucky
This conference advertises sessions led by some of the most sought-after inclusion and diversity experts in the world. Attendees will learn how to build a stronger workplace where everyone's unique approach is valued.
AfroTech
Oct. 27-31
Houston, Texas
The AfroTech Conference brings together a global community of Black tech innovators. 2024 sessions focused on building a future-ready workforce and featured U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Charlotte Burrows.
LEAP HR: Emerging Biopharma
November (specific dates TBD)
TBD
The key theme of 2024’s event was leading through industry turbulence and tight budgets. The event included networking opportunities in addition to “deep dive” sessions.
NELI Employment Law Conference
Nov. 13-14
Coronado, California
This is a two-day, advanced-level conference addressing developments affecting employment policies and practices of business and government.
NELI Employment Law Conference
Dec. 4-5
New Orleans, Louisiana
This is a two-day, advanced-level conference addressing developments affecting employment policies and practices of business and government.
ABA Labor and Employment Law Conference
TBD
TBD
The conference covers developments in labor and employment law and offers networking opportunities. Featured speakers often include federal agency officials.
HRO Today Engage
TBD
TBD
This conference in 2024 noted a focus on DEI, workplace culture and employee wellness.
HRO Today Corporate Learning & Tech Forum
TBD
TBD
In 2024, this conference will focus on education for L&D leaders, particularly around integrating AI, training a remote workforce and leveraging data analytics.
