New report finds misalignment in technology training for HR professionals
Training on HR technology has emerged as one of the least prioritised areas in organisations, despite HR professionals saying they feel least prepared to handle new tech, according to a new report.
Findings from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) found a strong misalignment in technology training for HR professionals.
According to the findings, just 32% of organisations consider training on implementing new HR technologies a top priority in the workplace.
In fact, the report found that 38% of employers put training on HR tech among their two lowest learning priorities.
The findings come despite 52% of HR professionals in the report saying they are least prepared to handle the implementation of HR technologies in the workplace.
This is the highest-ranking area where HR professionals feel the least prepared, with the development of effective compensation and benefits strategies coming after with 39%.
Dr. Amy Dufrane, CEO of HRCI, stressed the need to "capitalise" on HR professionals' desire to learn.
"This means more than just increasing spend or adding opportunities. It means aligning training and development with strategic needs in the organisation so that we are acquiring the skills needed to adapt," Dufrane said.
"Organisations that do this correctly will have a real edge moving forward."
Rapid AI adoption at work
The findings come in the wake of rapid AI adoption in workplaces, which the report said makes the need for HR training "more urgent."
"While surveys show that most HR professionals do not fear AI-related job loss, a majority do expect their job to change due to AI," the report read.
Jen Phillips Kirkwood, an HR and AI governance expert and Executive Fellow at the World Economic Forum, said in the report that AI training for HR teams will have to be beyond using AI tools.
"These moments are not what senior leaders envision when they talk about AI," Kirkwood said in the report.
"Executives are looking for enterprise impact. They want faster hiring, scalable service, stronger workforce insights, and consistent experiences across roles and regions—outcomes that go beyond individual experimentation."
The expert said the shift will require a new type of professional development for HR teams, and managers need to be capable of collaborating with IT, legal, leadership, and other departments.
"Our work isn't about becoming technologists, but about building the capability to steer technological decisions," Kirkwood said.
"We must be able to guide where AI exists, how it operates and how it should (and should not) be used in decisions that affect people."
Lack of organisational investment in HR
The misalignment in HR training reflects the lack of organisational investment in professional development for HR, according to the report.
Most HR professionals (95%) said they participated in professional development last year, and another 98% said they expect to participate again this year.
Despite the strong uptake, the report found that 81% of HR professionals believe their organisations do not spend enough on their professional development.
"How we train and learn matters," Dufrane said. "Our ability to meet the future depends on it. Professional development is not just 'nice to have.' It is essential to manage a workforce that will look and behave very differently with each passing year."
