There are some major trends affecting human resource management. The first is understanding the modern labor force, including trends that are determining who will participate in the workforce of the future. Next is an exploration of the ways HRM can support a number of trends in organizational strategy, from efforts to maintain high-performance work systems to an increased emphasis on teamwork and empowerment.

Often, growth includes the use of human resources on a global scale, as more and more organizations hire immigrants or open operations overseas. There are also major changes in technology, especially the role of the Internet, which is changing organizations themselves, as well as providing new ways to carry out human resource management. Finally, the nature of the employment relationship is changing. Careers and jobs are becoming more flexible.

The term labor force is a general way to refer to all the people willing and able to work. For an organization, the internal labor force consists of the organization’s workers—its employees and the people who have contracts to work at the organization. This internal labor force has been drawn from the organization’s external labor market, that is, individuals who are actively seeking employment.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an agency of the Department of Labor, tracks changes in the composition of the U.S. labor force and forecasts employment trends. The BLS has projected that from 2016 to 2026, the total U.S. civilian labor force will grow from 156 million to 168 million workers. The 2026 workforce is expected to be 76% white, 13% African American, and 11% Asian and other minorities. The fastest growing of these categories are Asian and “other groups” because of their rates of immigration to the United States.

Along with greater racial and ethnic diversity, there is also greater gender diversity. More women today than in the past are in the paid labor force. Between 2016 and 2026, women’s share of the labor force is expected to remain around 47%. Employers will have to ensure that employees and HRM systems are free of bias and value the perspectives and experience that women and minorities can contribute to organizational goals such as product quality and customer service. Today’s employees must be able to handle a variety of responsibilities, interact with customers, and think creatively.