Key HR Trends for 2024
2024 is just around the corner, and it’s time to take a look at the key HR trends for the coming year.
The rapid evolution of technology, shifts in work culture, and changing employee expectations have already catalyzed significant changes in personnel management. From AI-facilitated workforce management to prioritizing employee well-being—the future of HR management promises both exciting advancements and novel challenges.
1. Back to the Office (Hybrid Mode)
The hybrid work model is gaining worldwide popularity and increasingly becoming the go-to choice for companies. According to a McKinsey study, around 90% of businesses plan to combine remote work with office-based work in their future plans. Experts emphasize the benefits of in-person interaction for collaboration and productivity. Many companies aim to return to the office by 2024, reporting improvements in revenue and productivity through existing Return-to-Office (RTO) initiatives.
2. Marketing a Modern Benefits Package
Once again, the topic of benefits arises — apologies, but unfortunately many companies still rely on the famous fruit basket. In essence, attracting and retaining talents requires offering a benefits package that suits your workforce. you should know best, whether the nearby gym subscription is attractive to your employees or not. However, what resonates with our candidates are additional days off, bonuses and profit-sharing, commuting allowances, meal discounts, and flexibility during unforeseen events.
3. Labor Market Uncertainty
Uncertainty in the job market persists. Annual collective agreement increases will be higher than usual this year due to inflation, and some companies have already announced cost-cutting measures for 2024. However, this doesn’t necessarily imply workforce reduction and subsequent availability of skilled professionals. It’s more likely that the job search will present challenges similar to what we have already experienced, and candidates might scrutinize potential changes even more than they do today.
4. Proactive Candidate Engagement
Active candidate engagement was previously a standard practice for top-tier positions but is now increasingly utilized for entry-level roles. According to a LinkedIn survey, 84% of recruiters recognize the importance of engaging passive candidates for junior and mid-level positions to attract the best talents.
5. AI and Automation in Modern Recruiting
Traditional recruiting is often characterized by manual processes, making it time-consuming and error-prone. However, the use of AI in recruiting has overcome many challenges. For example, AI-driven tools can analyze thousands of resumes in seconds to identify the most promising candidates. In addition to significantly higher speed, AI positively impacts decision-making, bias reduction, and optimized workflows.
6. Ethics and Compliance
As AI progresses, ethics and compliance become crucial aspects of implementation. Strategies are being developed to manage data utilization, user access, and adherence to legal standards. These considerations encompass data types, user rights, and guidelines for AI ethics. Data privacy, security, and the rights of individuals whose data is used must be addressed.
7. Gen Z Enters the Job Market
By 2024, approximately 450,000 individuals in Austria will belong to Generation Z (birth years 1995 to 2010), constituting nearly 10% of the employed population in the country. These young people have high demands for freedom, justice, security, and a balanced work-life relationship. Additionally, they exhibit a preference for informality and maintain a constant online presence. Those who overlook these aspects in recruiting may face challenges.
Conclusion
The future of HR management is shaped by diverse trends—from the hybrid work model to AI deployment and ethical data utilization. Companies face both challenges and opportunities to find innovative ways to attract, retain, and develop skilled professionals.
If you need assistance with these or other HR-related matters, feel free to reach out to us. We’re here to support you with your personnel-related challenges.