7 Predictions That Will Shape HR Next Year
December 2, 2026 1:00 PM ET
HR will face new challenges in 2027, and the organizations that adapt fastest will be the ones that see the changes coming.
SHRM spends all year studying the forces reshaping HR, then boils those insights down to seven predictions that need to be top of mind for every HR leader in 2027. Join James Atkinson, VP of Thought Leadership at SHRM, and Anne Sparaco, host of SHRM’s All Things Work podcast, for a first look at this year’s predictions list.
The predictions discussed will include:
- How AI will evolve in 2027.
- Where CEOs’ attention will be focused.
- The skill every employer needs to be hiring for next year.
- A critical cultural force too many employers are ignoring.
- The future of interest rates.
- The biggest unforced error major companies will commit in the year ahead.
- HR’s role in all of it.
Our presenters will explore these big ideas shaping the future of work in the remainder of 2026 and what your department should be doing in response. Join SHRM for a lively discussion of the fundamental forces that will reshape the world of work!
SHRM Knowledge Advisors will join the live webinar to answer your questions in real time—right in the chat. If we don’t get to your question during the session? No problem, SHRM members can head to SHRM Connect after this webinar to keep the conversation going with advisors for 30 extra minutes. This benefit is only for members who join the live webinar and not included later on demand.
Meet the Presenters
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James Atkinson
James Atkinson, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Thought Leadership at SHRM, where he leads research teams uncovering key insights on the challenges and trends affecting HR and the workplace. Atkinson joined SHRM with more than 15 years of research, data, and product experience, having spent a decade in various leadership roles within the HR industry. Prior to SHRM, Atkinson was the Vice President of Data Products at Payscale, where he was responsible for the overall strategy, development, and delivery of data products for compensation professionals.
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Anne Sparaco
Anne Sparaco is the host of SHRM's "All Things Work" podcast, where she leads insightful discussions on the ever-changing landscape of work. Through her podcast, Anne engages with industry leaders, HR professionals, and thought leaders to explore topics that impact the modern workplace, from diversity and inclusion to the future of work.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.