AI-driven transformation is accelerating across the HR landscape, making technology skills a must-have for today’s HR leaders. As organizations race to adapt to the rapid advances in artificial intelligence and data analytics, mastering emerging tech skills is crucial for staying competitive. The August EN:Insights Forum, “Emerging Technology Skills in HR,” drew on SHRM’s latest research analyzing millions of HR job postings from 2015 to 2025 to spotlight the urgent need for upskilling.
The forum featured Kenny Pyle, lead HR technology analyst at SHRM, who shared how the surge in AI adoption is reshaping HR roles, elevating the importance of data fluency, and shifting HR from administrative support to strategic business partner. With technology competencies evolving faster than ever, HR leaders must act now to integrate new skills and tools into their teams.
Below are three key insights from the presentation.
Research Insight No. 1: Technology skills are now a cornerstone of HR effectiveness, empowering professionals to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving workplace.
According to Pyle, four million skills were posted between 2015 and 2025 for HR roles. Not long after the release of ChatGPT in 2023, there was a rapid increase in the technology skills in those postings.
The research further demonstrated:
From Q2 2015 to Q1 2024, the share of technology skills in HR job postings rose from 3.7% to 4.1%, reflecting a 1.1% average annual growth rate.
In the past year alone (Q2 2024 to Q1 2025), technology skills in HR job postings jumped by 23%, marking an unprecedented acceleration following the release of ChatGPT in 2023.
Pyle said, “If you have felt change is hitting really, really rapidly, you’re right.” HR leaders must prioritize upskilling in tech-related areas and create a strategic road map for HR tech integration, as these competencies are rapidly becoming essential.
Research Insight No. 2: The adoption of data analytics, data management, and business intelligence has moved from niche to mainstream in HR.
“Data had not been the foundation of what we did, but with the infusion of data, we realized how we could use it to stop having to tell you what we think and [instead] tell you what we can show, show you what the evidence is,” Pyle shared.
Annual skill growth rates in HR from Q2 2024 to Q1 2025:
Nontechnology skills: -1%.
Technology skills: 23%.
AI: 209%.
HR teams should invest in data literacy training and leverage data to demonstrate ROI, drive decision-making, and build credibility with executive leadership. Organizations that prioritize data fluency will be better equipped to adapt to rapid changes, support strategic initiatives, and deliver measurable business impact.
Research Insight No. 3: HR leaders increasingly recognize that power skills are now fundamental for working effectively with AI.
According to a recent survey of over 1,200 HR professionals, the top three essential skills for leveraging AI in HR are:
Adaptability: 65%.
Communication: 65%.
Analytical skills: 61%.
These skills are valued above technical programming, highlighting a shift toward human-centric competencies that enable HR professionals to interpret AI outputs, drive strategic decisions, and navigate rapid change. HR teams should prioritize learning to use AI tools and understanding their impact on people strategy, organizational design, and workforce planning.
As AI adoption accelerates, these skills will become baseline requirements for HR roles. Pyle emphasized, “AI isn’t going to come for your job, but someone who knows how to use AI efficiently might. It is becoming table stakes very quickly, again, probably faster than any skill has in the past, [so] we need to embrace and understand its uses and how to use it within our organization.”
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