HR Trends Leading The Way In 2020

Looking at the year ahead

We work in an increasingly digital world, one where long-held HR practices are being replaced by digitally-focused initiatives, tools and technologies. So, as we’ve embarked on a new year, what HR trends are we seeing in the early days of 2020? 
 

Here’s what we are tracking to make an impact on attracting, engaging and retaining talent this year:

Credentials as Currency

While we don’t know everything the future of work will bring, we do know that many major workforce trends are supported by credentials. Digital credentials provide individuals the ability to trade on the currency of their skills in a way that is portable, verified, and provides context of their knowledge and abilities. Employers that are fluent in digital credentials are well-positioned to make their hiring practices more efficient and effective. To adapt to the evolving labor market, verified digital credentials will be the currency of our workforce in 2020. 

The Rise of Skills-based Hiring

As the battle for top talent continues, we will see more companies turn to skills-based hiring as a way to more readily identify and connect with qualified candidates in 2020. And, since they provide a verified record of an individual’s knowledge and skills, we will see digital credentials emerge as an invaluable tool in skills-based hiring. Companies are honing in on these credentials as a way for people to be discovered for opportunities for which they wouldn’t normally have been considered.

Say Hello to a Standardized Skill Infrastructure

Historically, every employer had a different way of communicating skills, performance and accomplishments — if they communicated it at all. Now, with a critical mass of employers moving to recognize and certify the skills of their employees, the importance of a standardized approach to reporting outcomes has become clear. Digital credentials are bringing consistency, data, and trust to skill recognition and human capital decision-making, and we’ll see more companies placing value on credentials as the universal language of competency in 2020. 

A Push for Data-Driven Talent Strategies

If the first part of the digital credential movement has been around creating a culture of recognition, the next leg of this journey is about putting those credentials to work. This year, we’ll see continued momentum in the use of real-time digital credential data to make better human capital decisions and increase the success of certification and skill development programs. Employers are building entire talent strategies backed by digital credentials, and this year we’ll see this new currency for verified skills brought into every part of the talent ecosystem. 

It’s safe to say the Human Resources space has changed more in just the last five years than it has in the last fifty. As organizations continue to adapt and evolve, Human Resources will only become more digitally-focused. A new year provides a new opportunity for HR teams to lead the charge on adopting and executing the most innovative tactics, tools and technologies. 

Preparing for the year with these four trending digital-driven strategies will help you succeed in 2020. 

Author Bio

Jonathan Finkelstein is the CEO of Credly, the digital credentials leader helping the world speak a common language about people’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Credly empowers organizations to attract, engage, develop, and retain talent with enterprise-class tools that generate data-driven insights to address skills gaps and highlight opportunities through an unmatched global network of credential issuers. Visit www.info.credly.com Connect Jonathan Finkelstein  Follow @credly