Hiring in Human Resources: Guide and Trends in 2025

Companies seek out Human Resources professionals for help with building a diverse, equitable workforce

Political events – both globally and domestically – created economic uncertainties that made for cautious attitudes all around in 2024.

Businesses approached hiring with great care as the market held its breath for the results of the Indonesian and US elections, and talents were also more risk averse, opting for job security instead of moving to new roles or sectors perceived as less stable.

There was, however, a greater push for female leadership in the workplace. According to Rachmi Fauzie, Senior Principal at Robert Walters Indonesia, more companies nudged women to take up leadership positions and have more involvement with decision making in the organisation.

Read on to find out more about Rachmi’s expectations for Indonesia’s labour market and hiring trends for Human Resources professionals in 2025.

Hiring influenced by AI, skills-based approach and more

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have taken the world by storm in recent times. The use of AI has become more widespread in the past year, a trend that shows no signs of stopping as businesses move into the coming year. Rachmi anticipates that HR teams will integrate AI more into the recruitment process from start to end, using the technology to automate tasks, make better hiring decisions and create a smooth interview and onboarding experience.

Skills-based hiring will also be a prominent theme in the coming year. Already, companies are looking for candidates with strong digital skills, such as in data-driven HR and decision making. As technology becomes more ubiquitous, the market will shift towards candidates who are data smart and digitally fluent.

Equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) and environmental, social and governance (ESG) will also continue to set the tone for hiring strategies in 2025.

Businesses prize digital smarts and soft skills

With the spread of technology, the market will prioritise HR candidates who are digitally savvy and skilled in data analytics. Other skill sets that are in heavy demand include strategic thinking, business acumen, communication skills and stakeholder management.

These skills are particularly crucial for in-demand roles, such as HR generalists. Rachmi explains, 

Organisations are always in need of strong HR leaders with a deep understanding of local labour laws, best HR practices and smart talent strategies,

“Another in-demand position that requires these competencies is the HR business partner, who is responsible for aligning human capital initiatives with business goals. This role is particularly important as many businesses are now transforming their HR function to adapt to new workplace and market trends.”

There will also be a rise in demand for positions in rewards and compensation benefits. This comes as businesses seek to offer competitive packages that help them attract and retain talent.

Improve benefits, learning opportunities and work culture

“Candidates now tend to want to ensure that a company is financially stable before making the move into a new job,” shares Rachmi. “Other expectations include improvements on health insurance coverage – accounting for their dependents – over their previous employer, hybrid work arrangements and flexible benefits that can be used for their wellbeing.”

Given that benefits are a major focus area for employees, Rachmi recommends that companies provide competitive offerings to attract and retain talent. It is also vital to lay out clear pathways for career progression, and provide platforms through which employees can learn and develop skills.

Employees also value an inclusive work environment, so companies can consider making more investments into ED&I and promoting diversity in hiring.

Salaries go up slightly

Job movers can expect salaries to increase by between 10 – 20%.

Find out more

Request access to our 2025 Salary Survey to benchmark salaries and to find out more about key hiring trends in Indonesia.