The HRCI Research Hub brings together original studies, workforce polling, reports, and expert analysis, so you can act on what's happening now and prepare for what's next.
The State of HR Featured ReportsRecovery as a Workforce Strategy
Drawing on HRCI research, workforce data, and expert insight, this report examines the workplace impact of substance use disorder and the practical steps HR can take to strengthen culture, manager readiness, benefits, policies, and recovery support.
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Original research and expert analysis on the issues shaping HR today, from workforce safety and emerging technology to DEI and employee well-being.
From return-to-office decisions and hybrid work to contractors and other non-traditional workers, this HRCI report explores the latest research and how HR can use data to make more informed, evidence-based workplace decisions.
From career paths to culture, this research identifies what actually separates HR professionals who are just getting by from those who are truly fulfilled—and what leaders can do to close that gap and build a more committed team.
This research uncovers where professional development is falling short, from misaligned training priorities to gaps in AI readiness, and what it takes to build a workforce equipped for what's next.
From bullying, political tension to substance use and violence prevention, this research covers workplace safety—what the data reveals, what's at stake, and what you can do to reduce risk and build a more resilient organization.
The State of HR
Based on HRCI’s survey of thousands of HR professionals, the State of HR report examines the issues defining the profession today. From AI and workplace culture to talent, leadership, and career growth, the report reveals how HR teams are adapting to change and preparing for the future. Explore the data, trends, and insights shaping the world of work below.
Download the Full ReportState of HR Spotlight Reports
Half of HR professionals work in environments marked by polarized viewpoints, and 4 in 10 describe their stress as extreme or high. Find out what the data reveals about conflict, mental health, and what it means for your organization.
HR professionals are broadly optimistic about their field — but over 4 in 10 are considering careers outside of it. Explore what's driving both the enthusiasm and the tension, and what it takes to build a team of true HR believers.
71% of HR professionals use AI regularly, yet more than half say implementing new technology is the area they feel least prepared to handle. See where the preparation gap is widest and what needs to change now.
83% of HR professionals believe remote work benefits organizations—but the debate is far from settled. Get the data on where HR stands on flexibility, productivity, and the return-to-office conversation.
More Insights for HR Professionals
Explore the issues shaping HR today and get the data you need to lead with confidence, make informed decisions, and move the profession forward.
Recovery friendly workplaces reduce absenteeism, improve retention, and strengthen workplace culture—yet most organizations haven't made meaningful progress. This HRCI and Fors Marsh research reveals why: stigma, undertrained HR teams, and weak leadership buy-in top the list. Understand where the gaps are and what organizations that get it right do differently.
Earning an HRCI certification builds earning power. Within four years, the median HRCI certificant earns 33% more than they did before getting certified. That's double the salary growth of comparable HR professionals over the same period. See what the data shows about the career and financial impact of HRCI certification.
HR is ready to lead, but is the organization ready to let it? This 2024 HRCI and MindEdge research report surfaces a striking disconnect: while 88% of HR professionals believe HR should drive business strategy, only half say leadership agrees. Add in underfunding, understaffing, and persistent burnout, and the case for rethinking HR's role has never been stronger.
AI is reshaping the workplace, and HR professionals are watching closely. This HRCI and MindEdge survey of HR practitioners reveals how the profession is navigating AI adoption, persistent burnout, rising turnover, and the evolving push and pull of remote work. Find out where your peers stand, and what the data means for the work you do every day.
Browse our complete library of research reports, guides, and frameworks. Whether you're building a business case, navigating a workforce challenge, or staying ahead of what's next, the intelligence you need is here.
From rising absenteeism to safety risks, HRCI research reveals how extreme weather is reshaping workforce management and what HR can do now.
Over three-quarters of HR professionals use AI weekly, but most have had little to no training. Learn how to build real confidence and capability starting today.
Explore how HR can turn AI adoption into a strategic advantage—balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.
This research-backed guide gives HR professionals the data and practical steps to build a recovery-friendly culture that reduces risk and supports your people.
The report explores the realities of managing DEI programs in today’s climate—where values alignment, stakeholder trust, and business performance are all on the line.
This report provides critical insights and actionable strategies for HR leaders to foster a more harmonious and productive work environment.
HRCI webinars go beyond the basics. Each session unpacks the trends, data, and real-world strategies HR professionals need to lead with confidence today and adapt to what's coming next.
News and perspectives on the issues driving the HR profession forward.
Imagine you just landed on Earth, transported from the 1990s, and you’re handed an iPhone, now 10 years old, for the first time in your life. You’d probably have a hard time understanding how the metal and glass rectangle might be of use. This is not unlike the digital transformation challenges that companies are faced with today.
New technologies rapidly enter our workplaces, catching many of us off guard. As many experts have shared with HR Leads Business, HR managers must play an important role in linking information technology with the "human factor."
Organizations still struggle with technological innovation, according to a report from Harvard Business Review. CEOs surveyed list the top 10 barriers companies face when undergoing digital transformation projects. Nearly all the top 10 challenges, when you look at them closely, are areas where HR can make a huge impact:
"The ability to adopt a bird’s-eye view across the enterprise and across the supply base is essential," says Dean Edwards, Vice President of Global Strategic Sourcing at Levi Strauss & Co., who contributed to the report. Although writing from the perspective of a sourcing professional, Edwards’ comments ring true for the HR function:
"We get to see an awful lot across the organization, and can help make connections throughout the various parts of the enterprise. If we see one function undertaking a project, and a close parallel somewhere else in the company, we’re able to connect those dots so that those stakeholders have visibility into what’s going on."
Digital Transformation: HR’s Breakthrough Moment
Dave Ulrich, the Rensis Likert Professor of Business at the Ross School, University of Michigan, and a Partner at the RBL Group, believes helping organizations with digital transformation is HR’s next breakthrough moment.
Just as Edwards prescribes for sourcing, HR can play a significant role to help identify people issues, identify "parallel activities" and suggest ways the organization can pool resources that benefit the whole organization and its stakeholders. Such initiatives are in addition to the equally important adoption of HR-focused digital initiatives such as HR systems and workplace-oriented social networking platforms. HR is also in prime position to help an organization make the most of rapid technology adoption.
In Victory Through Organization, Ulrich and team suggests that HR be at the center of "the optimal flow of information, including identifying, accessing, importing, analyzing and disseminating important external information and to facilitate its use in decision making that impacts the business." The challenge, the authors say, is that HR must embrace new roles to help organizations with digital transformation.
Here is one idea from the Victory Through Organization: "By its very nature, the information agenda requires a cross-department perspective. Therefore, HR may convene a team of insightful individuals who represent key segments of the firm’s business model. The team may document how information has been historically used to make effective decisions and how information should be used in the future to create competitive advantage."
HR must be equipped to anticipate change — in technology, in the business and in the HR field. It is why the community of HRCI-credentialed practitioners are not only tested on their skills and knowledge, but the ability to adapt to change and keep improving through continuous learning and HRCI recertification credits. Today’s HR professionals must ask new questions, share ideas and embrace new ways of thinking. Those that do will be valuable digital transformation assets.
How has your HR department been a diver of technology innovation? We’d like to feature your organizational efforts.