Unravelling HR's evolving landscape: Exploring regional labour market trends
The world of human resources has undergone significant transformation over the past few years, marked by the tumultuous impact of COVID-19, remote work, new and unregulated AI technologies, and unprecedented recruitment surges.
As the market now faces a deceleration, HR departments are confronted with a fresh set of challenges amidst the prevailing cost of living crisis. Business managers turn to HR for guidance on a myriad of matters, ranging from performance management to compensation structures.
In this article, we delve into the findings of our latest report, ‘Regional Labour Market Trends in HR,’ to offer a glimpse of this changing landscape.
Want to read the full report? APSCo members can download a copy of the HR Market Trends report here, and non-members are invited to request a sample copy by completing this form.
A dynamic HR recruitment market
This year has witnessed a fluctuating HR recruitment landscape, experiencing both ups and downs. According to our annual forecast, there’s an anticipated decrease in HR vacancies, with almost half the number of positions available compared to 2022.
While some months have stood out as productive, a subsequent dip between quarters raises concerns for recruiters in this space.
Shifting priorities in HR divisions
Our report shows that the recruitment division, which previously held the highest number of HR vacancies, is projected to witness a sharp decline, resulting in a reduced share of vacancies. This could indicate changing priorities within HR.
According to Gartner, HR’s number one of five priorities in 2023 is leadership and management effectiveness, the second being organisational design and change management. These two top priorities could be signs that HR teams are focused internally, instead of actively recruiting and building their team.
Linked to Gartner’s findings, our own research showed that training and learning is expected to be the least affected HR division.
Regional variations in HR recruitment
London continues to lead the way in HR professional job vacancies, but a significant decrease is estimated this year, signalling a slowdown in recruitment activity.
The Yorkshire and the Humber region is expected to be the least affected, projecting consistent annual totals.
Promising growth and challenges in sectors In this evolving HR landscape, certain sectors show promising signs of growth, while others face notable challenges in meeting their HR recruitment needs. These sectors include:
The not-for-profit sector is anticipated to be the leading sector in HR recruiting in 2023, surpassing the numbers from 2021.
- The retail/CGS sector is projected to encounter a significant drop in HR vacancies in 2023.
- The technology sector is likely to face the most drastic decline in HR professional vacancies, contrasting with figures from 2022.
On a more granular level, some companies have experienced noteworthy changes in their HR professional job markets, showcasing impressive growth.
Conversely, some companies are expected to face negative year-on-year changes in HR professional vacancies.
A final thought… The HR landscape has been anything but stagnant, navigating through unprecedented challenges and growth. Our report, ‘Regional Labour Market Trends in HR,’ provides a comprehensive analysis of the sector's evolving dynamics, revealing promising growth areas and challenges that lie ahead.
For a deeper understanding of the changing HR recruitment landscape and its implications, we encourage you to download the full report and unlock valuable insights that can help shape the future of your HR strategies.
Members can click here for complimentary access to the HR Market Trends report. If you’re not yet an APSCo member, complete this form to request your sample copy of the report delivered directly to your inbox.
