A new Michael Page study shows that, far from being a management cliché, people really are an organisation’s most important resource. Recognition of this reality means HR leaders are placing a heightened focus on managing and retaining talent. In doing so, HR is increasing its own value to the business as an operational and strategic partner.

1. 86%
8
3%
81% 79%
7
9%
78%
THE RACE FOR TALENT IS BACK ON
Nearly half (48%) of HR leaders expect their workforce to increase over the next 12 months.
Almost a third of organisations have increased their recruitment budget:
27% 52% 21%
INCREASING STABLE DECREASING
Latin America
42%
USA & Canada
49%
Africa
66%
Asia Pacific
50%
UK & Ireland
60%
TALENT IS AT THE HEART OF HR PRIORITIES
HOW DOES HR MEASURE SUCCESS?
THE HR LEADER’S INFLUENCE: INCREASINGLY STRATEGIC
A snapshot of priorities, where talent management and
training & development top the global list:
Globally, 64% of organisations track fewer than 3 KPIs
The bigger the company – and its HR team –
the greater the level of HR KPI tracking
Employee
performance
Staff turnover Employee
engagement
Employee
competencies
Recruitment
efficiency
Managerial
performance
Employee
mobility
None
72%
67%
46% 43% 43%
32%
16%
3%
Few or no KPIs
3 or more KPIs
Talent acquisition
/ recruitment
HR policies
Employee
relations
Training &
development
Performance
management
Talent
management
Talent management
33%
Training and development
33%
Talent acquisition/recruitment
32%
Performance management
28%
Change management/transformation projects
27%
Employee retention
26%
Employer branding/marketing/employee value proposition
13%
Diversity and inclusion
4%
Are Diversity and inclusion just buzzwords or essential for business success?
Only 4% of organisations list them as a priority.
52% of organisations
with over 100 HR
employees track
more than 3 KPIs
The findings featured in this infographic are based on responses from 2,572 HR leaders in 65 countries.
63% of HR leaders in senior management directly
report to the CEO/CFO/chairman or woman/
general director/managing director.
HR’S
SCOPE OF
RESPONSIBILITIES
GLOBAL INSIGHTS
HR BAROMETER
Putting People First
How HR is at the Forefront of Business Growth and Transformation
Middle East
75%
Continental
Europe
44%