2024 will be a challenging year for the HR sector.
Due to changing employee expectations, many HR departments have been forced to adopt new working practices, including flexible working options.
In addition, HR professionals will have to manage workforces made up of employees spanning four generations.
The need for multi-generational recruitment and working practices that meet the needs of all these generations will be an imperative in 2024.
Growing skills, labour shortages, and inflation are other significant challenges for the HR sector.
To attract, hire and retain top talent, HR professionals must develop innovative recruitment practices, focus on employee engagement strategies, and invest in training and reskilling to help fill skill gaps.
Browse the following sections to learn more about what's coming up for recruitment professionals in the next year:
- most in-demand HR jobs for 2024
- salary trends for 2024: what can HR professionals expect?
- which industry needs HR the most?
most in-demand HR jobs for 2024
Managers, recruiters and HR generalists continue to be Canada's most sought-after HR professionals.
As companies focus on post-pandemic challenges, such as today's highly competitive job market, budget constraints and impending skills shortages, one new roles have appeared on the list of the top jobs: HR business partner.
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1. HR manager
Topping our list again this year is the role of the HR manager. These professionals work under the direct supervision of HR directors or executives and oversee many of the department's day-to-day operations.
They may specialize in a specific area, such as an HR payroll manager or employee benefits manager.
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2. HR coordinator
These human resource professionals offer ongoing support to various members of the HR team by handling a wide range of duties, including clerical work, reference checks and maintaining employee records.
Due to the variety of on-the-job skills HR coordinators learn, many move on to become HR generalists or select an HR specialty, such as payroll or recruitment.
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3. HR generalist
Small to medium-sized businesses are turning to HR generalists, especially those facing budget constraints or those that don’t yet have a dedicated human resource department.
Rather than focus on just one HR function, HR generalists can do it all. From recruitment and training to payroll and workforce management, there is not much all-around knowledgeable HR specialists can’t handle.
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4. HR business partner
An HR Business Partner collaborates with business leaders to align HR strategies with overall business goals.
They handle talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, and workforce planning while ensuring compliance and fostering a positive work environment.
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5. talent acquisition specialist
The current labour shortage and looming skills gap have increased the demand for talent acquisition specialists.
As the name suggests, these HR professionals focus on acquiring new talent. Like recruiters, talent acquisition specialists identify, attract and hire high-quality candidates.
They also engage with prospective candidates and guide them through recruitment to ensure a positive candidate experience.
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6. HR advisor
An HR advisor plays a critical role in how the human resources department functions. They review and analyze the company's HR processes, strategies and policies to ensure compliance.
Additionally, they offer recommendations to the HR director and company executives for improving efficiencies and outcomes regarding recruitment and workforce management.
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7. recruiter
Recruiters undoubtedly play a crucial role in HR departments across industries. They aim to attract, engage and hire qualified candidates who match their employer’s criteria.
Today’s recruiters must understand the dynamics of a multigenerational job market, realize the shift in candidates’ expectations, and provide a multichannel recruitment process to be successful in 2024.
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8. benefits specialist
A benefits specialist is responsible for assisting with implementing and managing the company's employee benefits offerings, such as employee life insurance, retirement plan and paid time off.
Their duties include communicating employee benefits to the workforce and preparing monthly billings for payment.
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9. HR director
New to our list this year is the role of HR director. These professionals serve as the head of the HR department and oversee human resource operations and staff.
They are responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring company policies and HR strategies and report directly to company executives.
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salary trends for 2024: what can HR professionals expect?
The average annual salary for mid-level HR professionals for 2024 is estimated at $93,600. The yearly salary of junior positions will be around $71,900.
Professionals who have more experience or are in senior positions will reach six-figure salaries, with an average of about $116,200.
Of course, these numbers can vary depending on your location and the type of position you're looking for.
Check out our salary guide to get a better idea of the average salary for your job based on your location.
benchmark your salary
Explore the average salaries for your job role in your specific location and understand how your earnings compare to the market average. Our online pay comparison tool makes it easy to see how your current compensation measures up against similar positions based on location.
access the toolwhich industry needs HR the most?
While HR professionals are needed in nearly every sector, there’s a higher demand for these professionals in specific industries.
For example, due to the large number of workers they employ, industries such as manufacturing, Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, Insurance Agencies and Brokerages and Engineering Services often require a dedicated HR department to handle both recruitment and workforce management.
Other sectors, such as Employment Placement Agencies and Direct Life Insurance Carriers, need experienced recruiters to attract and hire the highly skilled workers they need.
the most sough-after HR skills
Find out what skills and certifications employers are looking for in HR jobs in 2024. Candidates looking for a job in the human resources industry should be sure to include any of these valuable skills on their resumes.
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