European HR Market Update, Demand for Strategic HR Talent Continues to Climb
By Rebecca Lancelles-Foskett, Director Europe
Our European division has closely followed the trends discussed this morning, with 80% of current hiring focused on permanent opportunities. The strongest demand continues to be in HR Business Partnering, particularly within multinational and regional headquarters across key markets.
Over the past 12 months, 32% of our open roles have been located in the Benelux region, followed closely by Germany, France, and the Nordics.
HR Manager Roles on the Rise
While the traditional HR Business Partner role remains in high demand, recent months have seen a sharp increase in HR Manager vacancies, particularly across Paris, Poland, Germany, and Benelux. These roles often require a combination of strong operational execution and strategic partnering capability.
Clients are seeking professionals who can demonstrate expertise in:
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Labour relations and European employment law
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Development and implementation of HR policy
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Senior level stakeholder engagement and business partnering
This shift reflects a broader evolution in how organisations view the HR function.
HR as a Strategic Enabler
Organisations are moving away from perceiving HR purely as a support function. Increasingly, HR professionals are being embedded within European hubs to act as strategic enablers. We are seeing HR Business Partners hired to:
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Align HR initiatives with overarching business objectives
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Lead change management efforts linked to restructuring, growth, or digital transformation
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Translate local labour market insights into talent strategies, while navigating complex employment legislation across multiple European countries
Challenges in the European HR Landscape
Many of the challenges outlined in our recent HR survey are being echoed across European markets. The competition for talent is intense, particularly for HR professionals with the following capabilities:
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Fluency in multiple languages
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Experience working within hybrid and flexible models, often with a preference for four days in the office balanced by shorter days and strong work-life integration
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Labour law expertise across multiple jurisdictions
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Ability to manage cross border HR projects and collaborate with remote teams
The HR landscape in Europe continues to evolve rapidly. Organisations must now navigate:
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Complex labour laws and union dynamics
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New hybrid working frameworks
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The upcoming introduction of EU pay transparency directives in 2026
As a result, there is sustained demand for HR Business Partners, HR change specialists, and compensation professionals who can help businesses adapt and comply.
Looking Ahead, The Next Six Months
We anticipate the following trends to shape the second half of the year:
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Continued focus on permanent hiring as teams return post summer
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Increased demand for specialist roles in compensation and benefits, particularly in financial services, manufacturing, industrial, and pharmaceutical sectors
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A rising need for multilingual HR professionals with cross border experience, particularly in Benelux and Nordic markets
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Key hiring hubs will remain in Poland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium
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Greater on site presence expected for HR Business Partners within logistics and manufacturing environments
The message is clear, European HR is undergoing strategic transformation, and employers must act decisively to secure the right talent. Flexibility, clarity, and speed remain critical if organisations are to stay competitive in such a high demand environment.
Click here to see the results from our HR Hiring Survey 2025