到2024年，美国企业雇用了130万名人力资源专业人员，十年增长64%，而整体就业仅增长14%。首席人力资源官（CHRO）的总报酬占平均董事（不含首席执行官）薪酬的比例从1992年的40%上升至2022年的70%。越来越多CHRO进入CEO职位，例如通用汽车的玛丽·芭拉，像Dunkin’ Brands这样的公司也任命人力资源高管为首席执行官。

推动HR崛起的因素包括对顶尖人才价值的提升：Manpower的年度全球调查显示，今年有74%的公司报告技能劳动力短缺，十年前为38%。一系列职场变动—#MeToo、COVID-19导致远程工作与员工福祉管理、随后复工政策，以及多样性、公平与包容（DEI）议题—都扩大了HR职责。美国各州更多法规增加合规负担；HR Acuity的调查显示，职场歧视或骚扰指控从2021年的每千名员工6起增至去年的15起。与此同时，裁员激增——Challenger报告称十月宣布的裁员超过153,000人，亚马逊在最近的大裁员中也削减了许多人力资源岗位。

展望未来，人工智能既带来短期工作（再培训、招聘AI人才）也构成长期风险。公司已用AI筛选简历并部署员工问答机器人；麦肯锡调查显示，22%的受访公司称AI导致人力资源人数减少，仅5%称增加。部分公司将IT与HR合并（如Moderna）。总体而言，尽管HR地位上升，自动化与AI驱动的效率提升可能在长期内减少HR岗位。

In 2024 American businesses employed 1.3m HR professionals, a 64% rise over ten years versus 14% growth for overall employment. CHRO total compensation rose from 40% of the average director’s pay in 1992 to 70% in 2022. More CHROs have moved into CEO roles (e.g., Mary Barra) and firms such as Dunkin’ Brands have given top jobs to HR leaders.

Drivers include rising value of top talent: Manpower’s global survey found 74% of firms reported skilled-labour shortages this year, up from 38% a decade ago. Disruptions—#MeToo, COVID-19 remote work and wellbeing management, return-to-office mandates, and DEI initiatives—expanded HR’s remit. State-level regulation increased compliance burdens; HR Acuity reported discrimination/harassment allegations rose from 6 to 15 per 1,000 employees between 2021 and last year. Lay-offs surged: Challenger reported over 153,000 announced in October, the highest since the pandemic, and companies like Amazon included many HR roles in cuts.

AI brings both demand and risk: firms use AI to screen CVs and build employee chatbots; McKinsey found 22% of respondents said AI decreased HR headcount while only 5% said it increased. Low hiring and firing last year reduced HR workload, then rising layoffs added paperwork and cuts. Some firms merged HR with IT (Moderna). Overall, automation and AI-driven efficiencies suggest a long-term risk of reduced HR headcount despite the recent rise.