Press Releases

Jun 25, 2026 | The HRCI Team

HRCI Research Identifies the Key Drivers of Workplace Fulfillment for HR Professionals

New report reveals that professional development, career pathways and organizational support have a greater impact on HR professionals than traditional workplace perks

WASHINGTON — HR professionals who feel prepared, supported and valued are significantly more likely to be fulfilled in their careers, according to a new report from HRCI®.

As HR professionals navigate growing workplace complexity, the new HRCI report, The Secret Ingredients of Workplace Fulfillment, finds that the workplace conditions with the greatest impact on professional fulfillment have less to do with perks and compensation than with preparation, purpose, relevance and support.

“We are arguably seeing the biggest workplace challenges to hit our country since the Industrial Revolution—and HR teams have to deal with all of it,” said Dr. Amy Dufrane, CEO of HRCI, the global career partner for the HR profession. “The encouraging news is that fulfillment isn’t simply a personality trait. Organizations can cultivate it by investing in their people, creating opportunities for growth and ensuring HR professionals have the support they need to succeed.”

The report examines what distinguishes “HR Evangelists,” defined as professionals who enjoy working in HR, would recommend the field to others and are not considering leaving the profession.

Among the report’s key findings:

High-quality HR professional development that leads to a feeling of preparedness is the strongest predictor of workplace fulfillment.
Clear career pathways strengthen long-term commitment to the profession.
Lower workplace stress, stronger departmental preparedness and leadership that values HR all contribute meaningfully to professional fulfillment.
The most fulfilled HR professionals consistently work in environments characterized by preparedness, purpose, relevance and support.

The findings come at a time when HR professionals continue to face mounting demands. While HRCI’s 2026 State of HR survey found that 76% of respondents enjoy working in HR and 64% are optimistic about the profession’s future, many also report increasing workloads, elevated stress and uncertainty about career advancement.

Rather than relying primarily on compensation or workplace perks to improve engagement, the report identifies seven organizational factors that leaders can influence to strengthen engagement and retention. Those factors include high-quality professional development, clear career paths, HR-focused roles, lower workplace stress, departmental preparedness, leadership that values HR and a strong strategic HR function. The factors fall into four overarching themes: preparedness, purpose, relevance and support.

“HR professionals want to know that they’re growing, making a meaningful contribution and building a long-term career,” Dufrane said. “Organizations that invest in preparedness, purpose, relevance and support will build more fulfilled HR teams while also strengthening their ability to navigate change and help their organizations thrive.”

Researchers used statistical modeling to identify the workplace conditions most strongly associated with long-term professional fulfillment, providing leaders with practical, evidence-based guidance for strengthening engagement and retention.

About HRCI

HRCI is the career partner for the human resource profession, supporting HR professionals and the organizations that rely on them. Through applied learning, professional connection, and globally trusted standards, HRCI helps HR thrive as the workplace evolves. For decades, HRCI has set the standard for HR excellence, building a community of certified professionals in over 150 countries. By connecting strategy to practice, HRCI equips HR leaders with the real-world knowledge to drive business forward and shape the Future of Work. Learn more at hrci.org.

About Dr. Dufrane

Dr. Amy Dufrane is a global leader in human resources and workplace management. As CEO of HRCI, the career partner for the HR profession, she brings decades of experience in human capital management and employee wellness to interviews and media appearances. Dufrane helps set the standard for HR, serving as the international secretariat for global HR standards through ISO, the International Organization for Standardization. Her honors include the Global Impact Award of Distinction from the Bowman Foundation for Workplace Equity and Mental Wellness and the Globee Award for Women in Business. For the past four years, she has been named one of the Top 100 HR Tech Influencers by HR Executive magazine. Under her leadership, HRCI was named a 2024, 2025, and 2026 Top Workplace by WTOP News and the 2023 ISA Business of the Year.

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