This IDC study contains a five-year forecast for the worldwide and U.S. markets for human resource management services, including discrete HR outsourcing (i.e., processing), HR consulting, and full-service HR outsourcing (i.e., business process outsourcing). The HR services market declined in 2009 over 2008, both worldwide and in the United States. This is due to the economic situation throughout 2009, the decline in employment which impacted billings, and the dearth of new contract activity in HR BPO. In addition to outsourcing, HR consulting was hit hard by the economic conditions, with buyers postponing or canceling project-based work.
"To succeed in the new normal, suppliers are advised to consider opting for a standard platform on which to support clients for whom it makes sense technically," says Lisa Rowan, program director, HR, Learning and Talent Strategies for IDC. "Suppliers will also want to consider focusing on the core HR functions as buyers seek to minimize risk. Also important will be services that help buyers navigate through and manage emerging workforce models and help buyers gain insight into the workforce by way of analytics and planning."