The eight biggest HR trends in 2024
For those working in employee and people management, the focus in 2024 will be on managing the people implications of digital transformation.
In many organizations, this will mean addressing the challenges created by the increasingly ubiquitous and disruptive emergence of AI.
It’s true that no one yet really knows what impact AI will have on the human workforce, but for human resources professionals, 2024 will be about determining it.
So here are my predictions on the important trends that will impact HR over the next 12 months and beyond – a period that will see seismic shifts in many aspects of the way we work and do business.
Generative AI
Generative AI – such as ChatGPT and the ever-growing number of tools built around this technology – will revolutionize everything about how we manage talent and workplace dynamics. On a daily basis, human resources professionals will be able to streamline many processes, such as recruitment, personal development, workforce planning and administrative tasks. At the same time, they will also need to manage the human implications of this radical change, balancing the effectiveness of AI with the human qualities that remain essential in business.
The next generation
In 2024, an increasing number of Generation Z will enter the workforce while millennials will increasingly move into senior and management positions. For HR professionals, the challenge will be managing the different cultural and work-life expectations of younger members of the workforce, which often include a desire for a better work-life balance , continued training and skills development, and a greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion. and sustainability.
HR Technology
HR professionals will be able to deploy a growing range of technologies and tools to attempt to understand workforce trends and manage behavioral changes. E-learning platforms, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) training tools, and workforce tracking systems capable of monitoring engagement and performance will all be part of the toolkit. The challenges will be deploying them in a way that does not compromise staff privacy or data protection rights.
Flexible working
Managing the opportunities and challenges associated with the current shift towards flexible working arrangements will be high on the agenda for all HR professionals, particularly those working for large organizations with geographically diverse workforces . While this offers the opportunity to increase employee satisfaction and attract talent from further afield, it also means overcoming barriers to developing a company culture, maintaining team cohesion and ensuring consistent lines of communication and accountability.
Strikes and industrial action
As the global economic outlook remains uncertain, workers are increasingly looking to employers to improve their wages and conditions. This often leads to strikes and industrial action. In 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers increased by almost 50% from the previous year. In addition to the challenge of managing people, effective HR professionals will embrace the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with employees about their needs and expectations.
Workforce development and reskilling
An extremely important task for HR teams in 2024 will be to determine what skills will be needed by their organizations in the near future, as machines and AI become more powerful and capable. This means understanding how transformative technologies such as generative AI will augment existing roles and what human qualities and capabilities (strategic thinking, complex problem solving, creativity, emotional intelligence) are needed to complement machines.
Office experience
As companies try to attract workers to the office, human resources professionals are tasked with making sure workers understand the value of getting in a car or train to get to their workplace. This is not about providing beanbags and foosball tables, but ensuring that workplaces provide opportunities for collaborative productivity, professional development and networking that cannot always be replicated remotely.
Staff retention
One of the impacts of successfully training and upskilling your workforce in the AI era is that it becomes highly sought after by competitors or even in completely unrelated industries. To retain their valuable investments, companies must offer a real reason for loyalty to their employees. This means fostering a culture of reward and recognition as well as providing opportunities for continued development and learning. Staff – especially very good ones – will always want new challenges, but by focusing on retention strategies, the best ones are more likely to stay happy and engaged.