As organizations look ahead to 2026, HR leaders are navigating a workplace shaped by rapid change, economic pressure, and evolving employee expectations. HR is no longer just supporting the business, it is helping lead it. Based on McLean & Company’s 2026 HR Trends Report, the following ten priorities highlight where organizations must focus on building resilient, high-performing workplaces in the year ahead.
1. Developing the Organization’s Leaders
Leadership development remains the foundation of organizational success. In 2026, leaders are expected to manage uncertainty, inspire trust, and lead diverse, often hybrid teams. HR must continue investing in practical leadership development that strengthens decision-making, communication, and accountability at all levels.
2. Controlling Labor Costs
Rising wages, benefits expenses, and compliance requirements make labor cost management a critical priority. Rather than relying on reactive cost-cutting, HR leaders are focusing on strategic workforce planning, role alignment, and compensation strategies that balance fiscal responsibility with employee engagement and retention.
3. Recruiting
Competition for skilled talent continues to challenge organizations. Recruiting efforts in 2026 must focus on strengthening employer brand, improving the candidate experience, and leveraging technology to hire efficiently while ensuring long-term role fit and cultural alignment.
4. Enabling Innovation
Innovation depends on culture as much as capability. HR plays a key role in creating environments where employees feel safe to share ideas, experiment, and collaborate. By aligning policies, leadership behaviors, and incentives, HR helps innovation become part of everyday work – not just a special initiative.
5. Retaining Employees
Retention remains a top concern as employees seek growth, flexibility, and purpose. HR strategies focused on career pathways, recognition, and meaningful work help organizations keep their best talent engaged and committed.
6. Providing a Great Employee Experience
Employee experience continues to influence engagement, productivity, and retention. From onboarding to development to daily interactions, HR must design experiences that are intuitive, inclusive, and supportive – ensuring employees feel valued and connected to the organization’s mission.
7. Navigating Change and Uncertainty
Change is constant. HR leaders are increasingly responsible for guiding organizations through transitions with clear communication, strong change management practices, and support for both leaders and employees.
8. Facilitating Data-Driven People Decisions
People data is becoming essential to informed decision-making. HR leaders are using analytics to better understand workforce trends, improve hiring and retention strategies, and align people decisions with business outcomes while still applying human judgment and empathy.
9. Enabling Learning & Development
As skills evolve rapidly, continuous learning is critical. HR must enable accessible, relevant learning opportunities that support employee growth and ensure the organization remains adaptable and future-ready.
10. Enabling Innovation Through Capability and Culture
Beyond idea generation, sustained innovation requires the right capabilities and culture. HR supports this by aligning leadership development, performance management, and learning strategies to encourage adaptability, creativity, and continuous improvement.
Looking Ahead
These priorities, highlighted in the McLean & Company 2026 HR Trends Report, reflect the expanding role of HR as a strategic partner in organizational success. By focusing on leadership, talent, experience, data, and innovation, HR leaders can help their organizations navigate 2026 with confidence and purpose.
ASE Connect
Webinar: 2026 HR Trends – In 2026, HR is called to lead boldly through rapid change driven by AI transformation and economic and legislative shifts, and HR must step up and lead the organization with a human-centric focus. HR must develop leaders who excel at the foundations of people leadership, re-examine and reinforce organizational values to drive strategy through change, and collaborate cross-functionally with key partners to deliver on top priorities. By focusing on what matters most and the core drivers of organizational success, HR can build a resilient, connected workforce that thrives through change.
McLean & Company analysts will discuss the four pivotal trends highlighted in their 2026 HR Trends report:
- HR in 2026: Leading through change
- Strengthening the Foundations of People Leadership
- Harnessing Culture for Strategic Impact
- Driving Success through HR Collaboration
Join us January 29th at 9:00 a.m. Register here.
Source: McLean & Company