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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Human resources specialists

Male human resources specialist speaking to a group of employees sitting at a table. Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, work was controlled by people for 47.6 percent of human resources specialists. Work was self-paced for 52.4 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of human resources specialists with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	24.8	75.2
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	99.1	0.9
Working around crowds	<0.5	>99.5
Telework routinely allowed	50.1	49.9
Supervising others	13.5	86.5
Supervisor present in immediate work area	62.1	37.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 74.8 percent of human resources specialists and on-the-job training was required for 77.7 percent.

A high school diploma was required for 40.0 percent of human resources specialists and a bachelor's degree was required for 48.7 percent.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 29.4 percent of human resources specialists. Another 70.6 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 2.3 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by 97.7 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of human resources specialists and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 48.1 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 51.9 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 6.1 percent of human resources specialists and was not required for 93.9 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 87.6 percent of human resources specialists. On average, workers spent 91.6 percent of the workday sitting and 8.4 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of human resources specialists with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	87.6	12.4
Driving	17.2	82.8
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	7.2	92.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey