Updated December 2022
The field of human resources encompasses some of the most important functions in today’s businesses: attracting and retaining talent, fostering employee development, and resolving internal conflicts.
Increasingly, it also includes collaborating with senior managers to set corporate policy and ensure workforces are set up to align with business goals.
And as companies look to navigate the operational and labour market changes wrought by the pandemic, the need for skilled HR professionals is growing.
So which specific roles are on the rise? What HR careers are seeing the most rapid growth across Canada?
Keep reading to explore five of the top options.
HR managers are responsible for coordinating human resources functions and enforcing related policies. They direct and oversee areas like recruitment, hiring, onboarding, payroll, performance evaluations, and employee relations.
In smaller businesses, HR managers might handle these tasks themselves. In bigger organizations, they typically supervise and guide a team of assistants.
When the pandemic hit and a huge number of companies had to lay off staff or help employees transition to remote work, HR managers found themselves in big demand. And opportunities should continue to emerge as businesses seek to address staffing shortages or adapt to work-from-home setups.
In fact, HR manager topped Randstad’s list of the most in-demand HR jobs in Canada.
The median salary for HR managers is about $106,000, according to the Government of Canada Job Bank. The highest-paid managers earn more than $149,000.
Recruiters specialize in finding and hiring the people a company needs.
They work with company managers to figure out what skills and experiences are needed for a particular role. They also review resumes and LinkedIn profiles, attend job fairs, reach out to qualified candidates, and conduct screening interviews.
Their goal is to identify and attract the best possible candidates for open jobs and place people in positions that match their interests and goals.
After the labour market chaos that occurred as a result of the pandemic, many companies are struggling to fill openings. That spells opportunity for talented recruiters.
Indeed, Job Bank data shows steady-to-good demand for this occupation in every province of Canada.
The Job Bank says recruiters make around $60,000 as a median salary. At the high end, recruiters can make $100,000 or more.
Training and development managers focus on boosting employee productivity. They develop and coordinate skills development programs for both new hires and established staff.
That involves assessing training needs, organizing workshops, creating training materials, and evaluating the results of each initiative.
Many companies are in need of talented training and development managers to help staff adapt to changing workforce needs brought on by the pandemic.
According to PayScale, training and development managers in Canada earn a median salary of about $80,000. The most experienced and talented managers make $107,000 or more.
Human resources generalists handle a broad range of HR functions rather than specializing in one particular area. They can be involved in anything from recruiting, onboarding, and administering compensation to organizing performance reviews and addressing employee wellness.
HR generalists are commonly found in smaller organizations that rely on people who can do a bit of everything.
According to the Labour Market Information Council, job postings for HR generalists across Canada were up 33 per cent in 2022 compared to a year earlier.
HR generalists earn a median salary of roughly $75,000, based on Job Bank data. The highest earners make over $117,000.
Human resources business partners work with company executives to develop HR strategies that align with business goals.
While HR managers oversee day-to-day operations, HR business partners focus on strategic planning. For example, they figure out what new roles must be created and filled for a company to meet its goals.
They also come up with ways to streamline the functions of the HR department, reduce turnover, and improve employee-management relations.
As more companies recognize the role of human resources in driving business success, the demand for skilled HR business partners is growing.
In Canada, the median salary for HR business partners is around $76,000, according to PayScale. Some experienced pros earn $96,000 or more.
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