Want to Grow Your HR Career? These 5 Roles Are in High Demand

HR is having a moment—and for good reason. With the workplace evolving faster than ever, companies are leaning on their HR teams to navigate big changes, from hybrid work to AI-powered hiring tools. And employees are expecting more, too. Right now, only 18% of workers globally say they’re "extremely satisfied" in their jobs, so employers are leaning heavier than ever on their HR teams to keep people more engaged and productive (Great Places to Work).

Then there’s the growing leadership and succession planning gap—70% of HR leaders admit their companies aren’t equipped to develop future leaders (Great Places to Work). With middle managers under pressure, and many younger workers questioning the value of the leadership path, HR professionals are stepping up in a big way, rethinking how organizations support and develop their people.

At Altis, we’ve seen firsthand how the demand for HR professionals has skyrocketed. Over the past few years, HR teams have been through it all—frenzied hiring, layoffs and now, the challenge of rebuilding stronger, more agile teams during today’s economic uncertainty. So, having a strong HR team isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential.

What does that mean for HR careers? Well, if you’re looking to enter or grow in the field, now is the time. Below, we’re diving into five trending HR jobs to consider.

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5 Notable HR Jobs in Demand Right Now

1. HR Digital Transformation Leader: These tech-enabled HR leaders will manage the integration of advanced technologies like AI, machine learning and automation into HR processes, always with the goal of enhancing the employee experience and leveraging data to make informed decisions.

2. Workforce Planning Strategist: Think of all the predictions of new or changing jobs and new must-have skills as AI continues to steamroll its way through the labour market. Workforce Planning Strategists will leverage data to forecast future workforce needs, identify skills gaps, and develop recruitment and training strategies to ensure key projects remain on track. They’ll start with a skills audit of their company’s workforce, compare it with the most sought-after skills (based on current job postings and market trends), identify skills gaps in their organization, and then develop upskilling or hiring programs to address them.

3. HR Analyst: In the year ahead, HR will be even more data driven. HR Analysts will gather HR data and extract insights from it to make informed decisions. Applications include tracking trends, reviewing, interpreting and recommending changes to human resources policies, predicting employee behaviour, tailoring benefits offerings, adjusting hiring and retention strategies, developing coaching plans and more.

4. HR AI Ethics Officer: One of the most common concerns about AI is the risk of it introducing bias in processes like hiring, career pathing, performance management and others. HR AI Ethics Officers will stay up to date with the latest local legislation regarding AI. For example, NYC has an "AI in Hiring Law" that requires the city’s employers to disclose their use of automated hiring tools to screen NYC-based job applicants. And in Canada, the federal Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (“AIDA”) is making its way through the House of Commons. If passed, it will regulate high-risk or high-impact AI systems, including those used in hiring. The Ethics Officer will not only be up to date with legislation but will also work with the IT team to assess all tools used in any HR function (e.g., talent sourcing, screening and validation tools) to ensure they meet all ethical/legal requirements.

5. HR Policy & Compliance Specialist: This role requires deep knowledge of current employment legislation to ensure that an organization’s practices and policies are compliant (for example, in Ontario, the specialist would require current knowledge of ESA, WSIA, OHSA, Human Rights Code, AODA, Pay Transparency legislation, etc.). This role is also responsible for identifying and mitigating HR-related risks to protect the organization from legal challenges.

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5 Common HR Roles and Their Salaries in Major Cities in Canada

To give you a sense of how lucrative the field of HR can be, below, we’ve gathered salary data for five of the more common HR roles, showing what each would pay in major cities across Canada.  

To make sure we’re sharing the most accurate and up-to-date insights, we pulled the data from Payfactors by Payscale (we invested in this trusted compensation resource so we could offer our clients reliable salary benchmark data).

Of course, actual salaries can vary based on specific job details such as remote vs. onsite work, years of experience, required languages, industry and more.  

Note: In the table below, we’ve included the base salary for each position (at the 50^th percentile), along with the base salary ranges. The actual ranges may be higher with employers that offer additional compensation such as bonuses and commissions.

5 HR Courses to Boost Your Skills

How can you keep moving up the HR ladder? Keep learning. Across all roles and seniority levels the key to career progression is maintaining current skills. Below, we’ve gathered five trending HR courses to consider, including some free ones.  

1. Generative AI for Human Resources (HR) Professionals Specialization (FREE). This course will teach you the fundamentals of generative AI, and how to develop effective prompts and apply this technology to streamline HR processes. You’ll also learn about the ethics and challenges of implementing generative AI for human resources.

2. Succession Planning. This virtual course at the Canadian HR Academy equips HR professionals with practical skills to conduct talent reviews, identify high-potential employees, and develop effective succession and development plans to integrate into your broader talent strategy.

3. HR Policy Training Course. Gain the expertise required to craft effective HR policies, streamline recruitment and onboarding, manage performance and foster a positive workplace culture—all while ensuring compliance and boosting productivity.

4. AI Applications in People Management (FREE). Designed for HR leaders, this course will teach you about the limitations of using data in HR decisions, as well as how to mitigate bias and use AI to manage the employee lifecycle and streamline HR functions.

5. Business-Driven HR Digital Transformation. Discover how you can lead HR digital transformation by aligning technology with business strategy, optimizing remote HR management and implementing next-generation HR practices. You'll learn to enhance efficiency, improve employee experience and adapt to evolving workforce needs.

HR is not only about policies and paperwork—it’s about shaping the future of work. Companies need HR pros who can blend people strategy with technology, create engaging workplaces and make data-driven decisions that actually move the needle.

If you’re in HR and wondering where to take your career next, now is the time to specialize. Whether it’s digital transformation, workforce planning or compliance, these in-demand roles offer exciting opportunities to make an impact.

Interested in exploring your next HR role? Search open HR jobs on our Job Portal!

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