HR hiring enters 2026 with turnover stabilising and demand focused on maintaining essential people functions. HR advisers, generalists, business partners and administrators remain the most sought-after professionals.
Demand for workplace health, safety and wellbeing capability is also rising as legislative change, mental health priorities and psychosocial risk reshape responsibilities. HR leaders continue to prioritise leadership development, employee experience, learning and development, and experienced capability.
38%
of HR teams report turnover has decreased (27%) or significantly decreased (11%).
61%
of HR teams have invested in AI in the past 12 to 24 months.
53%
of Human Resources professionals describe their team as under-resourced.
Human resources generalists
• HR Director
• HR Manager (managerial function)
• HR Manager (standalone)
• HR Business Partner
• HR Generalist
• HR Advisor
• HR Officer
• HR Administrator/Coordinator
Human resources specialists
• Head of Talent/Talent Acquisition Lead
• TA Business Partner/Senior TA Advisor
• TA Specialist/Advisor/Consultant
• Talent Acquisition (TA) Coordinator
• Health & Safety Manager
• Health & Safety Advisor/Senior H&S Advisor
• Health & Safety Administrator/Coordinator
• Employee Relations Manager
• Employee Relations Officer/Advisor
• Industrial Relations Manager
Our process begins with a detailed consultation. We meet with you to understand the role, required skills, experience level, and cultural fit. This ensures the search is tailored to your business needs.
Once the brief is clear, we promote your vacancy across job boards, LinkedIn, our AI tools, and internal database. Our recruiters also headhunt passive candidates, ensuring you reach both active job seekers and hidden talent.
We review applications, conduct phone or video interviews, verify qualifications, and check references. Only the top candidates are shortlisted, saving you time and ensuring you meet the most suitable professionals.
Shortlisted candidates are presented to you for interview. We manage scheduling, prepare candidates, and provide you with market insights to help evaluate and compare applicants effectively.
After you choose your preferred candidate, we assist with salary negotiations, and manage counter-offers. We also follow up after placement to ensure long-term success.
"Employee rewards and benefits have become more diverse and personalised. We’ve found a greater need to focus on offering competitive compensation and benefits, fostering a positive and inclusive work culture, and providing growth opportunities. Flexibility and additional leave (we offer grandparent leave!) are also a huge drawcard. Allowing employees to work from anywhere and shifting the focus to outcomes rather than hours worked has become a key driver of attraction and retention in our teams. Given the nature of the HR load, we are going beyond traditional health benefits to include financial wellness programs, wellbeing leave and wellness programs for fitness, stress and anxiety management.
All HR professionals need to stay updated on workplace trends, employee expectations, and technology. For junior HR professionals, familiarity with HR technologies like AI and automation is essential, along with strong digital literacy to analyse HR metrics. Equally important are interpersonal skills, empathy, and conflict management, along with a solid understanding of labour laws. Senior HR professionals need strategic thinking and leadership skills. They must align HR initiatives with organisational goals, have advanced workforce analytics capabilities, and support their business’ leadership development and change management."
Take a closer look at what’s driving hiring in your industry, from shifting employer priorities to the roles most in demand. This comprehensive report reveals the key trends shaping recruitment and workforce strategy this year, providing your business with a competitive edge in today’s uncertain labour market.
Copyright 2026, people2people Recruitment

