What Is a Human Resources Analyst?

Human resources professionals are present in almost every business office and government department. HR specialists are responsible for creating job postings, contacting candidates and their references, leading employee orientation, discussing benefits with employees, and conducting staff training sessions.

However, with the constant progression of technology, the HR field has changed and developed a new type of role: the human resources analyst. An HR analyst collects data from inside their workplace and outside sources and uses that data to inform decisions made by an HR department and organizational leadership.  

Human Resources Analyst Job Description and Responsibilities

An HR analyst is responsible for a variety of tasks related to a simple goal — using data to create a better team and a better workplace. Some of their responsibilities include: 

• Using personality test data and resume information to determine which new hires to bring onto the team. 
• Creating employee performance reviews and studying the resulting data to determine what roles best suit the current team and where internal promotions and shifts can be made. 
• Writing detailed reports for HR managers and other leadership and using data to inform business decisions for those at higher levels in the organization.
• Conducting outside research to determine what improvements can be made to current systems and processes in the workplace. 
• Leading employee orientation and training and collecting participant data to inform future improvements. 

Human resources analysts use surveys, interviews, and other data sources to inform hiring decisions and improve employee retention.

Skills Needed to Become a Human Resources Analyst

Human resources analysts need to be trained in a variety of essential skills related to data analysis. These hard and soft skills allow an HR analyst to make sound recommendations regarding new hires and current employees for the good of the company. 

Hard Skills

An HR analyst needs certain hard skills, acquired through relevant degree programs and work experience, in order to succeed. To best perform their duties, a human resources analyst needs the following skills: 

• Human Resources Best Practices: Human resources analysts need to be knowledgeable in core concepts related to hiring and compensation. 
• Laws and Regulations: Understanding laws and regulations covering labor, discrimination, and accessibility is vital for HR professionals. 
• Data Analysis and Related Tools: HR analysts work with data. Proficiency in data analysis and data collection tools allows analysts to gather accurate information in an efficient manner. 
• Research and Report Writing: Organizing and summarizing data so that company leadership can use it for decision-making is one of an HR analyst’s most important jobs. 

These skills help a human resources analyst to use relevant data to make hiring decisions and improve human resources policies and processes within the company. 

Soft Skills

Soft skills that human resources analysts continuously use in their work include: 

• Critical and Analytical Thinking: Whether an HR analyst is working with data or interviewing a potential employee, critical thinking skills are vital. They must be able to bring in large amounts of information about a topic and make sense of this information effectively. 
• Writing and Communication: When they are writing a job posting, interviewing potential hires, writing reports, or conducting staff training seminars, an HR analyst needs to be able to communicate confidently and clearly.
• Decision-making: HR analysts don’t simply collect and analyze data. They either use this information to make decisions, or they provide recommendations to those in leadership positions regarding decision-making. Either way, they need to be able to identify problems and decide on the best course of action. 

These skills help an HR analyst to handle large amounts of incoming and outgoing data. These professionals need to be able to not only bring in data, but to make sense of that data and make the best possible decisions as a result. 

Education Beneficial to Becoming a Human Resources Analyst

The skills needed to become an HR analyst can be learned through a relevant degree program. Most businesses require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in human resources or business administration. However, earning a master’s degree can help to increase your level of expertise and further develop your skills. 

Aspiring human resources analysts can benefit from the analytical skills learned through a Master’s in Business Analytics or a Master’s in Human Resources Analytics. Those looking for more general business education may pursue a general M.B.A. Alternatively, an M.B.A. focusing on human resources management can educate a student on HR best practices and provide specialized knowledge in human resources.  

Each of these degree programs gives students the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills that human resources analysts use every day in their careers. 

Where Do Human Resources Analysts Work?

Human resources analysts can work in any business or government office with a human resources department. They provide valuable information for HR managers and an organization’s leadership in regard to staffing and hiring. 

A common workplace for human resources analysts is an employment agency. Companies that work to place job seekers in open positions or find temporary workers for interim positions need the skills of an HR analyst. 

Salary and Job Outlook for Human Resources Analysts

HR analysts are considered a type of HR specialist. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, human resources specialists earn between $37,680 and $108,160 annually. 

This field is expected to grow faster than other occupations, with a job outlook of 8% growth between 2021 and 2031. It is projected that there will be 81,900 job openings for human resources specialists each year over the course of the next decade. 

How is Human Resources Changing in a Remote Work Landscape?

The human resources field has had to adapt as more and more companies shift to remote or hybrid work environments. HR professionals have made a variety of changes in response to new challenges related to: 

• Communication: Messaging platforms and virtual meeting tools like Zoom allow HR professionals to conduct interviews for new hires, check in with current employees, and meet with leadership to discuss important matters. 
• Onboarding and Training: HR digital programs help collect and organize important information from new hires, and HR professionals are restructuring what the first day of work looks like for remote workers with the help of video conferencing. 
• Transitions Between In-Person and Remote Work: Moving from in-person to remote and back takes some planning, and HR professionals are able to help employees make this transition as smoothly as possible with regular check-ins and written communication and guidance. 

HR is changing, but human resources professionals are trained to deal with these challenges and continue to create positive work environments for employees around the world.