What Will HR Look Like in 2030? (2024)

The article discusses six predictions for the HR landscape in the year 2030, offering insights into how HR leaders can prepare for these changes.

1. Generational Shifts: By 2030, Baby Boomers will largely exit the workforce, making way for Generation Z to take over. Gen Z has different expectations from their employers, including a focus on values like environmental sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion. HR will need to guide companies in navigating these shifts in values while making decisions on potentially polarizing topics.
2. Digital Training: The skills gap will remain a significant concern in 2030, with HR professionals observing basic computer skills as a common deficiency. HR will need to adapt recruitment practices and invest in upskilling current employees, particularly in digital skills like artificial intelligence and big data.
3. People Experience Departments: A new focus on the "lived experience" of employees may emerge as a separate department, distinct from traditional HR. This shift would prioritize employee development and engagement over mere compliance and administrative functions.
4. Teamwork and Project-Based Work: Traditional hierarchical structures are giving way to project-based teamwork. HR will need to rethink incentive programs and performance evaluations to adapt to this change, emphasizing continuous feedback rather than annual reviews.
5. Automation and AI: Automation and artificial intelligence will continue to evolve, allowing HR professionals to focus on more strategic tasks. HR departments will need to embrace these technologies, train employees effectively, and ensure the ethical use of data and monitoring tools.
6. Hybrid Work (Phygital): Hybrid work models, combining physical and digital work, will become the norm. HR will need to establish clear rules and expectations for remote and in-office work, address concerns about equity and inclusion, and provide the technology and support needed for effective collaboration in hybrid environments. Regional offices may also become more common as companies seek to balance remote work with in-person collaboration.

Thank you SHRM for the insights.