It’s that time of year already, and the Peoplecorp team has taken a step back to review our market predictions for 2025.
It’s fair to say the market was highly unpredictable last year, with hiring activity only gaining momentum in the second half of the year. As we did previously, the Peoplecorp team scored each prediction out of 10 and, for a bit of fun (and objectivity), we also asked ChatGPT to do the same.
Here’s how we stacked up 👇
Cautious recovery in Talent Acquisition roles
Peoplecorp Team – 7/10
ChatGPT – 7.5/10
We did see momentum in Talent Acquisition roles pick up towards the end of the year, however, this recovery was uneven across sectors and levels of seniority. As a result, the pace was slower than anticipated, despite the overall direction being correct.
Evolving hybrid working models
Peoplecorp Team – 9.5/10
ChatGPT – 9/10
This prediction proved to be very accurate. Many organisations increased their in-office expectations, with a noticeable shift from 2–3 days in the office to 3–4 days. That said, flexibility remains a key attraction and retention lever, and a lack of it continues to impact hiring outcomes.
Continued demand for strong ER & IR professionals
Peoplecorp Team – 9/10
ChatGPT – 8.5/10
We saw this most prominently in the senior contracting space, particularly in the first half of the year, driven by an increased focus on governance and risk. ER/IR remains an area where organisations struggle to secure strong talent, especially at the junior to mid-level, where depth of experience is limited.
Increase in Organisational Development roles
Peoplecorp Team – 7/10
ChatGPT – 8/10
While there has been an ongoing focus on culture, capability and succession, this wasn’t consistent across all organisations. In many cases, OD was deprioritised as businesses focused on stabilisation. Encouragingly, we did see this trend pick up again in the second half of the year.
Technical & specialty HR roles (SWP, data, Chief of Staff)
Peoplecorp Team – 9/10
ChatGPT – 8.5/10
This was a strong call. Data-led HR capability and Strategic Workforce Planning gained real traction, and Chief of Staff roles to CPOs became increasingly visible as operating models stretched. The continued acceleration of AI has only amplified demand for commercially and numerically minded HR professionals.
Change & Transformation growth
Peoplecorp Team – 7.5/10
ChatGPT – 7/10
We did notice an increase in transformation activity, particularly within private capital-backed environments. While demand for HR change capability was real, many organisations proceeded cautiously, taking a more phased and measured approach.
Market Moves