ALEXANDRIA, Va. — With America’s workforce facing the biggest challenges in decades, including debates over diversity, remote work and the role of artificial intelligence, a new report shows that HR teams remain optimistic about the future.
HRCI, the premier credentialing and learning community for the human resource profession, released its first-ever State of HR report, containing the largest survey of HR professionals in the organization’s 50-year history. The survey, which had 4,583 respondents worldwide, showed that 64% say they are hopeful about the future and 76% enjoy working in HR. In fact, 72% are likely to recommend it to others as a career path.
“The state of HR is strong,” said Dr. Amy Dufrane, CEO of HRCI. “As a group, HR professionals are optimistic and resilient. They understand that personnel is performance, and that how we cultivate our people is how we cultivate success. It does not surprise me to see that today’s HR professionals are looking past adversity and focused on getting the job done.”
Survey data showed significant challenges for HR professionals at all levels who are operating in today’s tumultuous workplace:
“Employers are facing some of the biggest changes in the workforce since the Industrial Revolution, and much of that falls directly on HR departments,” Dufrane said. “We can expect to feel some growing pains, but it is clear that today’s HR teams are willing to take on those challenges.”
The report also provided a great deal of insight into where HR professionals stand on critical workplace issues. For example:
“The workplace is changing at an incredible pace,” Dufrane said. “It will look very different in the coming years. Today’s HR professionals are already adapting. They will help lead the charge and be a positive force to smooth those transitions for both employees and their own teams.”
To download the full report, visit here.
Dr. Dufrane is available for interviews. To schedule a call, please contact press@thestorylinecompany.com.
About the Survey
The State of HR survey was completed by 4,583 human resources professionals, who received it via email between October 15–31, 2025. A large majority of those respondents (85%) practice HR in the United States. Our sample includes 1,727 individuals who reported holding titles at director-level or above, and 1,686 people who indicated that they manage other HR professionals. Eighty percent identified as women.
About HRCI
HRCI is the premier credentialing and learning community for the human resource profession. For 50 years, HRCI has set the global standard for HR expertise and excellence through its commitment to developing and advancing those in the people business. HRCI helps HR professionals and businesses achieve new competencies that drive results by creating and offering world-class learning and by administering eight global individual certifications and three organizational certifications. Today, more than 500,000 HR professionals in more than 150 countries have achieved HRCI certification as a mark of high professional distinction. To learn more, visit www.hrci.org.
About Dr. Dufrane
Dr. Amy Dufrane is a global leader in human resources and workplace management. As CEO of HRCI, a leading provider of learning and credentialing for HR professionals and their organizations, 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 and 2025 Top Workplace by The Washington Post and the 2023 ISA Business of the Year.