Human Resource Definition

The term ‘human resources’ refers to the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, business sector, or economy. It is also used to describe the field of labor economics and human resource management. The term encompasses both the people who work for a company or organization and the department within that organization responsible for managing personnel.

In most organizations, human resources is responsible for a wide variety of functions, including recruitment and selection, training and development, employee relations and benefits administration. The human resources department is often tasked with ensuring that an organization’s workforce is able to meet its strategic goals and objectives. In order to do this, human resources must align its policies and practices with the organization’s overall business strategy.

The field of human resource management has evolved significantly over the past few decades. A major driver of this change has been the increasing importance placed on talent management and development. As businesses have come to realize that their employees are their most valuable asset, they have placed greater emphasis on attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.