Which Industries Have the Biggest Need for Human Resources Professionals?

If you have been thinking about pursuing a career in the field of human resources, you are probably wondering about which industries will offer the most human resources jobs.

As many human resources experts know, human resources has gained increasing value within a wide range of industries as a result of the fact that evaluating human capital has become an increasingly important aspect of ensuring employee satisfaction and increased conversion rates. These days, there are a variety of valuable services that human resources professionals provide companies, such as the administering of psychometric assessments that help place employees in the positions for which they have the most aptitude. Although human resources professionals are highly sought after in many industries, they are oftentimes most needed in:

1. Business

In his assessments regarding why the field of human resources has become so important in the business sector, Scott Redmond notes that many business owners are recognizing that high employee turnover rates can be costly. In recognizing this reality, many business owners are responding by hiring a highly qualified human resources staff that will work to ensure that employees are placed in positions that suit their personalities and individual proclivities.

2. Healthcare

Healthcare is an incredibly important industry today, especially since the need for health professionals who can provide high quality services to treat and/or prevent disease ensures greater wellness in communities throughout the world. To ensure that healthcare facilities are optimized for factors such as productivity and efficacy, it is oftentimes important to have human resources professionals on site. These individuals can play a role in ensuring that the healthcare facility functions well by offering a plethora of services, some of which can include:

• Managing the job recruitment, selection and promotion processes
• Developing and overseeing wellness programs and employee benefits
• Developing and promoting the correct personnel policies and subsequently enforcing them
• Fostering effective employee-employer relations
• Facilitating a positive work environment
• Managing the healthcare facility’s pay-for-performance system
• Promoting job training and employee career development
• Providing orientation procedures for new staff members
• Offering guidance for disciplinary actions
• Serving as the primary contact person for work-related accidents and/or injuries

Some other sectors that oftentimes have a great need for human resources professionals include the service industries (such as retail/restaurants) and government.

Careers in Human Resources

Individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in the human resources sector should note that there are a variety of jobs within this sector that they can attain. Some of them include:

1. Human Resources Manager

A human resources manager is an individual who plans, directs, and coordinates an organization’s administrative functions. To accomplish this objective, human resources managers play a primary role in recruiting and hiring new staff members. They also consult with the executives of the organization for strategic planning purposes. Finally, the human resources manager will serve as the link between the organization’s employees and management team. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a human resources manager can expect to earn about $99,720 annually.

2. Human Resources Specialist

A human resources specialist is an individual who recruits, screens, interviews, and subsequently places workers. Additionally, the human resources specialist may handle other work that pertains to the human resources department. Examples would include matters pertaining to employee relations, benefits, payroll, and staff training. The human resources specialist can expect to earn about $55,640 annually.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the human resources sector, you should know that there are a plethora of industries that will want to hire individuals with experience in this field. Now that you have a basic understanding of which industries will likely offer human resources jobs, you can begin making educational and vocational plans to ensure your professional success.

Related: Is Your Industry Growing or Dying? (Infographic)