Top HR trends this year

HR trends in 2024

In today’s dynamic HR landscape, change adaptability is a crucial skill for survival. Even though it feels like we've just stepped into 2024, groundbreaking trends like generative AI, augmented reality, micro feedback, and ethical leadership are already making waves in the industry. In today’s article, let’s dive deep into the top trends for 2024 that are poised to bring significant changes to the way we approach human resources.

We have discussed the role of AI in HR in plenty in the previous posts. Generative AI can bring organization-wide changes and transform the way people are hired, managed, and retained. A 2023 Gartner survey states that 60% of HR leaders are already engaged in enterprise-wide discussions to adapt to Generative AI. This year, we’ll see AI starting to impact every stage of an employee work experience cycle, from hiring processes to exit interviews.

A tactical area of interest this year will be reskilling and upskilling. Agile and adaptive learning will be key, and HR experts will focus on personalized learning experiences rather than offering traditional L&D content. Microlearning, an idea that introduces employees to bite-sized learning modules, will also be hot. Augmented reality training, something we have seen grow over the years, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 54.8% between 2023 and 2024.

Reskilling is going to be necessary rather than a choice. A recent McKinsey report states that by 2030, there may be a need for 12 million occupational transitions globally, thanks to AI. This means it is time for HR leaders to have upskilling and reskilling processes in place, forecasting future skill gaps.

A 2023 Gallup study mentions that employees are up to 3.6 times more motivated to do great work when they receive daily feedback. In 2024, the significance of continuous feedback, offered in real-time and in micro doses, will influence employee experience. Let’s now talk about every HR professional’s favorite two words - employee engagement. In 2023, the ratio of engaged to actively disengaged employees was 2.1:1. Clarity of goals, setting clear expectations, and improving role clarity will be three points of focus to help improve employee engagement rates this year.

Employee burnout will remain a national concern this year, too. The Covid pandemic showed us the urgency of addressing employee mental health. According to a 2024 National Association of Mental Illness poll, only 36% of organizations with less than 300 employees offer workplace mental health training compared to 59% of organizations with more than 5000 employees. This year, the focus should be on smaller organizations adapting to mental health support.

The bar for ethical leadership has never been higher. In a recent business management survey, 82% of employees emphasized the need for ethical leadership to establish workplace trust. This is a growing phenomenon that must be addressed. HR experts must assume additional roles guarding ethical blind spots this year. Accountable diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) will be of interest, too, especially at the top leadership levels. What does that mean? DEI practices may now get a tech upgrade, moving from mere pledges to a factor to be measured, quantified, and accounted for.

A blended work culture is something we all must get used to. 2024 will see a significant increase in contingent workers, and we’ll need to design inclusive policies, benefits, and recognition systems for the blended workforce. A Harvard Business Review (HBR) survey reports that while most organizations use independent contractors, only 38% agree that they effectively manage that workforce segment. This will be a work in progress. The current year will also normalize and standardize hybrid work culture, with 80% of the top CHROs agreeing that they have no plans to change remote flexibility anytime soon.

2024 will be the year the HR industry braces itself for divergent opportunities, changes, and challenges. Any change in industry trends, economic conditions, regulatory environments, and technical advancements require swift and agile adaptation by HR professionals. As we slide into 2024, anticipating the trends will help us navigate with foresight. What do you think is going to be 2024’s significant transformation in HR? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for our next topic.

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