Valuing Your Talent: Human Resources Trends and Metrics

This edition of the Human Resources Trends and Metrics report presents survey findings and analysis that support the strategic management of human resources. It profiles the economic and demographic trends affecting HR strategy, illustrates and benchmarks a range of measures that provide insights into the effectiveness of talent management practices, and explores the efficiency and effectiveness of the HR organization. It also collects data on the size and cost of the function, among other metrics.

In discussing drivers of the HR planning process, the report notes several broad trends. On the one hand, respondent organizations identify the importance of keeping critical talent and building leadership capacity in the face of escalating retirements and declining labour force growth. On the other hand, their performance on developing diverse talent is mixed. In the talent management area, the report finds, for example, that more organizations in 2008 than in 2005 are collecting data on the effectiveness of HR practices such as leadership bench strength. With regard to the evolution of the HR function, the report notes that more than three-quarters of HR leaders believe they are more influential today than five years ago. The level of outsourcing has increased only slightly.