HR Generalists are the most sought-after professionals in the human resource industry today. An interesting survey conducted by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) on HR professionals in summer 2015 revealed, “Almost one-quarter (24%) of companies that are hiring are seeking HR professionals with employment/recruitment skills, people with benefits experience (16%), employee relations skills (13%) and training/development skills (13%). However, only 27% of respondents said their organizations were hiring for HR positions.”

According to SHRM’s HR Jobs Pulse Survey Report 2015, only 1% of small companies (99 or fewer employees) are hiring, while nearly two-thirds of employers with 25,000 or more workers are hiring for HR jobs. Among the companies that are hiring for human resource positions, HR generalists continue to be in the highest demand (55%).

Median compensation for HR generalists across all levels of experience also improved at a better rate in 2014 than for HR positions overall, according to the 2014 General Industry Human Resources Compensation Survey Report U.S. by global HR consultant Towers Watson.

Confidence remains high in the stability of the human resource (HR) profession, and although job opportunities have been flat since the start of 2015, there is increased faith among HR professionals that they can land new jobs in their field, if necessary. The increased confidence among HR professionals may be due to improved conditions in the broader labour market.

See: 5 Fundamental Shifts Which Dramatically Impact HR Industry

SHRM survey also found that, “Many HR professionals are content with their compensation and their ability to balance work and life issues. However, others are not satisfied with their advancement opportunities and their organization’s overall culture, leading them to seek new jobs in the near future.”

Some of the key trends highlighted in the survey for HR professionals seeking opportunities to further their careers are:

• More than one out of four HR professionals (27%) had some degree of concern about their job security (23% were “somewhat concerned,” and 4% were “very concerned”).
• The vast majority of HR professionals (88%) had some level of confidence that they could land a new position, if needed. Of the 88%, 59% said they were “somewhat confident,” and 29% said they were “very confident.”
• More than one out of three respondents (37%) who said they were looking or planning to look for a new job cited “more compensation/pay” as the reason. Thirty-three percent also pointed to “better career advancement opportunities” as the reason for seeking a new job.

Many HR professionals also indicated they planned to improve their skills in the near future. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents said they would be focused on developing HR competencies in the next six to 12 months in order to advance their careers.

Of that group, slightly more than half (51%) said the primary driver for that decision was their belief that “they needed the development,” and 17% said the “trend in my field indicated the need for specific competencies.”

To achieve this goal, 61% said they would take classes/seminars offered by another body (such as a professional organization, private training organization or a trade group), and 35% said they would obtain a professional certification. Another 34% indicated they would take classes/seminars at an educational institution.

Also read: Positioning HR as a Business Partner

Image credit: shrm.org