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. According to the Michael Page study, which polled the views of over 2,500 HR leaders worldwide, the current top priorities for HR are: talent management, training & development and talent recruitment. The challenges now facing the HR function include: meeting the demand for workforce expansion, applying KPIs more systematically to monitor company needs, and providing insight and guidance to the board. See our global infographic for an at-a-glance view of the study highlights.

1. GLOBAL INSIGHTS
HR BAROMETER
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%
Middle East
75%
USA & Canada
49%
Continental
Europe
44%
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 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
13%
Diversity and inclusion
4%
Only 4% of organisations list diversity and inclusion as a priority.
Are they just buzzwords or essential for business success
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
78%
86%
8
3%
81% 79%
7
9%