The year 2009 is wrapping up and soon we’ll be transitioning into the last year of the decade. HR has changed the past ten years, and like other industries, will continue to evolve in the future. Instead of looking too far ahead, let’s have a peak at what 2010 has to offer and what variables could change for the HR industry.

The most important aspect of HR is employment itself, which has hit a rough patch in 2009. I reported on the outlook of hiring going into the end of 2009. The numbers show HR professionals are optimistic. Their companies are either going to maintain status quo or begin hiring new employees. This news alone should provide a ray of optimism going into 2010.

Of course for every bit of good news there must be bad news. Recent data released by the Labor Dept. shows many employers are still hesitant to hire. The latest data shows an overall less un-employment rate, but there were a few numbers which showed a potential dire future. As it stands now there are more potential candidates per job openings than in recent history. This of course creates a fiercely competitive job market, and can put a strain on HR. Which if you’re reading this isn’t good news to hear.

While employment rates will fluctuate, a staple of HR which will stay constant, is the need for communication. Keeping in constant contact with employees and having available channels for them to contact you, is a must for success. Going into 2010, this should be a good time to reflect on the technologies you use to communicate with employees.

Doug Caverly wrote earlier of how Twitter is becoming a more prevalent tool in the workplace. The problem is allowing for social networking usage at work, while making sure it’s being used strictly for business purposes. While there’s always potential for abuse, going into 2010 might be a good time to look at social networking as a viable communication tool with your employees. This allows for faster and more efficient correspondence.

Coupled with the implementation of social networking, 2010 should be a year you expand your technical knowledge and your social skills knowledge. The patterns of attitude in the workplace is continually changing, as older generations leave and younger ones take their place. This is a more general point to remember, but going year to year it’s important to know employees who are joining your company and what traits they bring with them.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 8:30 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

About the Author: John is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest ebusiness news.