2017's most in-demand HR jobs

In this uncertain job market, it helps to know that your role is in demand. Good news for those in the HR generalist, HR business partner, HR manager and HR director roles - these roles are the most sought after in the HR industry.

According to Randstad US' annual 2017 Hot Jobs report, apart from those in the roles mentioned above, within the HR industry, compensation and benefits managers, earning and development specialists, and recruitment specialists are also in demand this year.

Randstad's 2017 predictions included the most in-demand and emerging jobs within eight different industries - HR, engineering, finance and accounting, information technology, life sciences, manufacturing and logistics, non-clinical healthcare, and office and administration.

Human resources (HR)

Hot jobs1. HR generalist/business partner2. HR manager/director3. Compensation and benefits manager4. Learning and development specialist5. Recruitment specialist

"As technology in the HR space continues to rapidly advance, HR professionals must stay ahead of the digital curve and leverage emerging technologies to drive nearly every aspect of the function. Recent developments in mobile apps, cloud technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence and robotics are helping to better anticipate and manage business needs. The pace of technological adoption, combined with a growing talent shortage, is creating new challenges and opportunities for HR professionals," Jodi Chavez, president, Randstad Professionals said.

Engineering

Hot jobs1. Validation engineer2. Construction project manager3. Controls engineer

Emerging jobs1. Robotics engineer2. Embedded engineer

"The engineering field continues to evolve based on market trends and technical innovation. Competition remains high for the most popular positions, while the unemployment rate for the overall field is well below the national average," Richard Zambacca, president, Randstad Engineering said.

Finance and accounting

Hot Jobs1. Accountant (staff, junior, senior)2. Analyst (financial, business, junior, senior)3. Manager (accounting, finance, project)4. Auditor (director, manager, SOX)5. Controller (VP of finance)6. Accounting clerk

"Professionals in this field play an important role in the success and profitability of an organization. Job opportunities in finance and accounting have increased with the growing economy. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates with strong public accounting and general ledger software skills, as well as bilingual applicants," Chavez said.

Information technology (IT)

Hot jobs1. Full stack developer2. Security engineer3. Big data engineer

Emerging jobs1. VR/AR engineer2. IoT engineer

"Advancements and innovation in technology call for an increase in qualified candidates for a wide variety of IT roles. Positions in Big Data, in particular, will continue to see growth as they are critical to increasing productivity and innovation – two important differentiators for nearly all companies today," Dino Grigorakakis, vice president, Randstad Technologies said.

Non-clinical healthcare

Hot jobs1. Administrative assistant2. Receptionist3. Executive assistant

Emerging jobs1. Medical secretary2. Medical assistant

"As the healthcare industry overall sees continued growth, the number of non-clinical support staff will increase as well. A focus on improving patient experience and greater use of technology in a clinical setting will contribute to the need for additional front and back-office support in healthcare facilities across the country," Linda Perneau, president, Randstad Commercial Staffing said.

Life sciences

Hot jobs1. Medical writer2. Clinical study manager3. Drug safety associate4. Regulatory manager5. Clinical research associate

"The talent shortage in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry will likely continue to rise in 2017 with the increased volume of clinical studies initiated in 2016. As a result, the industry will require qualified and experienced candidates to fill these open positions," John M. Ebeid, vice president, Randstad Life Sciences said.

Office and administration

Hot jobs1. Customer service representative2. Administrative assistant3. Receptionist4. Executive assistant

"As office and administration roles evolve, these positions are starting to look more like middle management than support staff. The recession and advancements in technology have both contributed to the evolution, as more companies turn to a smaller team to take on more duties. As a result, competition can be high for some of the most popular jobs, so candidates that possess diverse skills such as project management, budgeting, marketing and training will have the upper hand," Perneau said.

Manufacturing and logistics

Hot jobs

Direct Hire1. Production supervisor2. Driver3. Warehouse supervisor

Temp4. Loader/unloader5. Assembler6. General production worker

Emerging jobs

Direct Hire1. Maintenance mechanic2. Machine operator

Temp3. Forklift operator4. Picker/packer

"New technology, innovative production systems, a growing preference for American-made goods and a decline in offshoring are transforming U.S. manufacturing. There is an increased demand for technology-savvy workers to not only capitalize on the next industrial revolution, but to fill a critical void left behind by retiring workers. Job seekers with previous experience, higher education, technological know-how or training will have a competitive edge," Greg Dyer, president, Randstad Commercial Staffing said.

Photo / iStock