As we enter a new year, what are going to be some of the focus areas for HR in 2020? What new hiring trends are expected to gather more steam in 2020- employee experience, diversity or AI? What are going to be some of the hottest jobs that are expected to be on everyone’s wishlist?

In an exclusive conversation with People Matters,  Michelle Armer, Chief People Officer at CareerBuilder, throws light on what are going to be some of the major employment and HR trends that will mark the coming year.

What are some of the new employment/hiring trends that will make news in 2020?

In 2020, companies will prioritize cultural diversity to make sure they are building strong teams that represent many different cultures, genders and even generations. McKinsey uncovered that organizations in the top 25% for gender diversity outperform others in the industry by 15%, and those in the top 25% for ethnic diversity perform better than their industry competitors by 35%. 

Additionally, next year employers will change how benefits – both salary and non-salary – are structured, including opportunities for professional development and the ability for employees to take personal leave. A CareerBuilder study indicated that only one-third of workers feel satisfied with the opportunities their current employer is offering for career advancement, continued learning, and skills development. We anticipate employers may begin to talk about mentorship and educational opportunities earlier in the recruitment process as they recognize this is something job seekers feel is important.

Additionally, flexible work and improved leave benefits will become popular in 2020. Industry-wide, parental leave has become standard for birthing parents, but we have already seen companies begin to offer leave benefits for both parents, and this will continue to take off next year.

 Trends around flexible and remote work opportunities are here to stay. People are starting to leave large cities due to the high cost of living in favour of smaller, more suburban areas. More companies will offer flexible work policies to employees – whether it’s for select days of the week or on a permanent basis – as this gives them access to top talent, regardless of where those employees are based. Technology makes collaboration across different geographic regions much easier, and the option to work remote is something workers are coming to expect.

 AI will also continue to play a large role in the recruitment process. With new technologies, job seekers are able to apply to a higher volume of jobs in a shorter period of time, which means hiring managers will rely on technologies to efficiently and effectively manage these volumes. 

What are some of the things companies should look out for when hiring in 2020?

Companies should make sure they are being open and inclusive in their hiring efforts in order to attract wide candidate pools. There are a few best practices hiring managers can employ to reach diverse candidates.

 •Take advantage of available technologies, but make an effort to leverage the right tools. Do research on how tools work before using them to find new employees.

•Think about whether gender is playing a role in the way job ads are written, and eliminate the use of “he” or “she” where possible to make them more general and inclusive.

•Considering collaborative hiring. After selecting final candidates for interviews, involved employees from different backgrounds and departments to meet with the candidates, as this can help prevent cognitive bias.

•Not only have corporate culture and employee experience become bigger priorities for job seekers, but studies show that opportunities for growth are important to the majority of workers as well, so making those are clear during the recruitment process can help keep applicants’ interest.

 What are some of the hot jobs to look out for in 2020?

Jobs in technology and healthcare are projected to continue increasing in demand.

Specifically, over the next few years, we’re expecting demand for registered nurses, software developers, computer and IT support specialists, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, and home health aides to maintain their position as some of the hottest jobs. Top jobs can also vary by geographic region since key industries can vary greatly from one city to another. For example, there are a lot of jobs in the entertainment industry in Atlanta, whereas we’re seeing tech jobs take the lead in New York.

The good news for job seekers is that many skills are transferable from one industry to another, and can, therefore, lead to unexpected opportunities for job seekers. For example, many people don’t realize the skills required for personal care aides and customer service representatives are similar, so people in these roles can easily shift based on demand.

 What trends are expected to rise as far as the space of employee benefits is concerned?

There are a few key benefits trends we’re expecting for 2020, and most are centred on the employee experience. Earlier this year, there was a lot of buzz around parental leave – specifically for non-birthing parents – in the financial industry. Companies realize employees are looking for a healthy work/life balance and will expand family leave benefits for this reason.

 A CareerBuilder study showed that employees are often ranking their office location, affordable benefits plans, and a good work culture as more important than salary when considering a position, so companies need to offer plans that meet those needs. Flexible work, perks like discounted gym memberships, and half-day Fridays are a few of the programs and perks companies may add in 2020.

Employee experience will be a hot topic in 2020. What are some of the things companies should focus on to improve the employee experience to attract the right talent?

Companies should focus on building in experiences or improvements that will not only be appealing to candidates, but that also fit in well with the corporate DNA. Try to find and create meaningful ways to bring employees together, whether it’s through cross-team mentorship programs, workshops, or fun events like intramural sports teams. While each element on its own may not seem like it will have that large of an impact, the smaller pieces together will add up to create a positive experience for employees.

 How do you predict is 2020 going to be for HR Tech-what major trends you see in the future?

We’ve seen a lot of innovation in the HR tech industry over the past few years, and this pace will continue. AI and machine learning will remain important in the technologies that impact both employers and job seekers.

More AI-powered tools will emerge in 2020 to constantly improve the process for both hiring managers and job seekers.

Candidates will expect even faster communication and feedback from hiring managers than they do now, and companies will need to integrate social media tools or other instant messaging platforms into their portals. Companies will build in more of these features to help the hiring process feel more personalized and to give candidates a better experience.

 The current labour market has put employees and job seekers in the driver’s seat, which means they can demand more than they did before. For instance, employees will expect to be able to work remotely. Companies will have to adapt by integrating collaboration tools and platforms that can help their teams work together across different locations. This may also require some HR departments to restructure how they are putting together benefits offerings and the types of packages they will extend to new hires.