The New Era of Workforce Planning
Automation and AI are reshaping work — but transformation, not elimination, is the true story. SHRM is your essential partner to plan, adapt, and lead with confidence.
FEATURED EVENT:
The workplace is changing. Build a stronger workforce with inclusive strategies to drive innovation, retention, and measurable business growth.
The Importance of Workforce Planning
The workplace is shifting faster than ever, driven by AI, automation, demographic changes, and employee expectations.
For CEOs, CHROs, and HR leaders, the challenge is clear: how do you adapt your workforce strategy at the speed of change?
Organizations that treat workforce planning as an afterthought risk falling behind. But when HR leads with strategy — aligning talent to business goals, anticipating skill gaps, embracing learning and development — companies don’t just adapt. They grow. Workforce planning directly impacts ROI by:
Reducing turnover costs
Improving productivity
Ensuring the right skills are in place for future growth
At SHRM, we believe the new era of workforce planning is where business strategy and human potential converge.
"Today’s workplace is rapidly changing, and CEOs and HR leaders must proactively adapt, not just react. By aligning talent with business goals, anticipating skill gaps, and investing in continuous learning, organizations boost productivity, reduce turnover costs, and drive growth. Strategic workforce planning is essential for sustainable success — now is the time to connect business strategy with human potential."
Jim Link, SHRM CHRO
Workforce Planning: The Future of Work
Don’t just react to change — get ahead of it.
This seminar equips you to anticipate talent needs, forecast disruption, and design a future-ready workforce strategy.
Key Drivers for The New Era of Workforce Planning
Disruption is accelerating. SHRM research finds that:
15%
of U.S. jobs already have 50%+ of tasks automated.
6%
of U.S. jobs are highly automated and have no nontechnical barriers to displacement.
The biggest risk? Failing to reimagine roles, reskill people, and build systems that assess full capability.
- Without strategic workforce planning, organizations face inefficiency, talent gaps, and competitive disadvantage.
- With proactive planning, organizations reduce costs, build agility, and unlock new growth.
Operational Efficiency = Lower Costs
Organizations that predict workplace trends are more likely to excel at driving change (61% vs. 45%). That translates into better operational efficiency and reduced costs.
Proactive planning avoids costly gaps, emergency hires, and turnover — all of which drain the bottom line.
Agility = Competitive Advantage
Strategic workforce planning ranks 5th in future importance but only 18th in current capabilities. Closing that gap builds agility.
Markets move fast. Companies with agile workforce strategies pivot, innovate, and outperform peers — translating directly into faster revenue recovery and sustained growth.
Talent Alignment = Business Growth
41% of HR executives say their organizations excel at developing a vision and plan for change — the foundation for aligning talent and achieving growth.
The right people in the right roles accelerate strategy execution and unlock higher ROI from human capital investments.
Risk Management = Resilience
13% of U.S. jobs are at high risk for automation-driven disruption. The solution? Proactive workforce planning.
From automation disruption to demographic shifts, workforce risks are real. Planning ahead mitigates financial and operational risks, ensuring companies stay resilient and ready.
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FEATURED WEBINAR:
Navigating Workforce Transitions: Practical Strategies for HR Leaders
Join SHRM experts as they share actionable strategies to navigate workforce transitions, from automation disruption to evolving employee expectations. Walk away with tools you can apply immediately to strengthen resilience and position your organization for growth.
Why Workforce Planning Matters
90% of CHROs expect AI integration to accelerate in 2025, and 87% believe it will be critical to boosting productivity. Workforce planning is now a C-suite priority.
This isn’t just about HR filling roles. It’s about enabling CEOs and CFOs to hit growth targets, protect against disruption, and maximize shareholder value.
Reshaping the World of Work
SHRM Foundation’s Skills-First at Work research reveals that many employers struggle to find qualified workers, not because talent doesn’t exist, but because the hiring practices don’t recognize different learning pathways.
23.2 million
The number of jobs that already have 50%+ of tasks automated.
9.2 million
Jobs that face near-term displacement without nontechnical barriers.
But SHRM research shows most work will evolve — not vanish. The winners will reimagine roles, redesign work, and reskill their people.
Attend the Most Important Events to Prepare for The New Era of Workforce Planning
October 26 - 29, 2025
Louisville, KY
Design the future of I&D.
BLUEPRINT equips you with the frameworks to align workforce planning and I&D efforts with business growth — and thrive in an era of constant disruption.
April 19 - 22, 2026
Dallas, TX or virtual
Winning the future starts with winning talent.
Learn how to adapt your talent strategy, build skills-first pipelines, and stay ahead of workforce shifts at the premier talent event of the year.
March 9 - 10, 2026
San Francisco, CA or virtual
Artificial Intelligence plus Human Intelligence = ROI for the workforce of tomorrow.
Dive deep into how organizations are blending AI tools with human potential to redesign jobs, upskill workers, and unlock innovation.
June 16 - 19, 2026
Orlando, FL or virtual
The largest stage for the future of work.
From AI disruption to workforce agility, SHRM’s Annual Conference brings together global leaders to reimagine work and strengthen HR’s role in business strategy.
The Pillars of the New Era of Workforce Planning
40% of CHROs cite workforce planning as their top talent-management priority. The ROI is clear: reduced hiring costs, stronger succession pipelines, and better execution.
From Forecast to Flexibility: Rethinking Workforce Planning
Future Focus: Progress and Reinvention in the World of Work
The 4-Step Framework to Build a Future-Ready Workforce
SHRM People Analytics Specialty Credential
Your data is talking — are you listening?
Turn HR insights into business impact with people analytics skills that drive smarter, faster, and more strategic decisions.
51% of HR professionals say AI will transform jobs rather than replace them. The winners will use technology to unlock human capacity for innovation — fueling productivity and profitability.
The New Age of Workforce Planning
Talent Optimization: 3 Steps to Build a High-Impact Workforce
From Data Chaos to Clarity: Transforming Information into Action
SHRM AI + HI Specialty Credential
AI doesn’t replace people — it empowers them.
Learn how to harness AI alongside human ingenuity to redesign roles, fuel innovation, and future-proof your workforce.
80% of workers believe humans should review AI-driven decisions. Human judgment, empathy, and leadership remain irreplaceable — and they drive the strongest ROI through engagement and retention.
Unlocking the Power of Data-Driven Performance Management for CHROs
Rethinking the Talent Life Cycle as a Strategic Advantage
Aligning Learning and Development with Evolving Workforce Needs
HRBP: Becoming a Strategic Influencer
Move from executor to influencer.
This program helps HR Business Partners step into a bigger role — guiding strategy, shaping culture, and driving change with credibility.
53% of CHROs anticipate more rapid skill development as AI adoption accelerates. By investing in transformation strategies, businesses protect profitability and position for long-term leadership.
What CEOs expect from their HR leaders
Mentorship Supports Employees and Organizations amid Uncertainty
Good Succession Plans Are Ready to Meet The Unexpected
Developing an HR Strategy
If HR isn’t aligned with business goals, everyone feels it.
Learn how to build and execute a strategy that connects talent planning directly to growth and performance.
Latest News & Insights
A Wellhub survey of 1,500 CEOs shows workplace wellness is now a core business strategy, credited with boosting productivity, retention, and ROI.
Learn how to win CEO support for workplace wellness, identify the metrics executives value most and discover how HR can best track and report impact.
Discover how HR leaders can replace crisis-driven spikes with sustainable productivity strategies for lasting gains.
Learn how to protect your HR budget during a recession. Discover 7 actions to prove the value and ROI of your HR programs to secure funding.
Newest Member Resources
This toolkit provides actionable resources and frameworks to help HR be a strategic revenue engine that drives measurable value and business impact.
Ensure your compensation programs advance business objectives with this checklist. HR professionals can deliver measurable impact on organizational performance.
Streamline your HR department’s financial planning with this customizable budget spreadsheet. Track expenses, forecast costs, and support strategic decision-making.
This comprehensive sick-leave policy details accrual rates, usage guidelines, and procedures to support the medical needs of employees and their families.
Not a SHRM Member Yet? Here’s Why It Matters
Workforce disruption isn’t slowing down — and neither can your strategy. SHRM members don’t just stay informed; they stay ahead.
As a member, you’ll gain:
Exclusive data & insights to make confident workforce decisions
Proven tools & frameworks for strategic workforce planning
Practical case studies & playbooks to turn disruption into ROI
A global community of HR leaders to benchmark, learn, and lead with confidence
The new era of workforce planning is here. SHRM Membership is your competitive advantage.
Join SHRM Today and ensure your workforce strategy delivers measurable impact — for your people, your business, and your bottom line.
Multiply Your Impact: Bring SHRM Membership to Your Entire HR Team
As a SHRM member, you already know the value of having cutting-edge research, actionable tools, and a powerful professional network at your fingertips. Imagine the results if your entire HR team was equipped with the same resources, insights, and strategic capabilities.
With a SHRM Corporate Membership, you can:
Prove HR’s collective value by leveraging SHRM’s data, benchmarks, and case studies to connect people initiatives to P&L outcomes.
Expand your team’s impact through specialty credentials, toolkits, and events that help design business-aligned HR strategies together.
Stay ahead as a team with the latest insights into workforce trends, compliance shifts, and innovative HR practices.
Engage your whole team with a global HR community that shares real-world solutions and strategies to accelerate organizational growth.