There’s never been a better time to be an HR professional. More than ever before, organizational experts are discussing the importance of creating a positive employee experience in the workplace. Studies point to the major role job engagement and satisfaction have to play in productivity, and research shows that a positive, supportive work culture that includes ample employee recognition leads to success. All this means that HR is being put at the forefront of companies’ business strategies.

As such, there’s great opportunity for motivated individuals to study human resources and make a major impact in the happiness of employees across all industries. Working in HR is a rewarding career path for this reason – read on to learn more about the role:

What do HR professionals do?
Human resources is a discipline that concerns issues related to the people of an organization, as The Balance explained. HR professionals work within this discipline to perform a range of duties that concern recruitment, performance management, training, compensation, benefits and more. Beyond these tasks, however, they are also responsible for helping employees with any problems, questions or difficulties they may face, such as harassment or the desire to move to another department.

What skills are important for HR professionals to have?
HR professionals should have superior people skills and be effective verbal and written communicators. They should be skilled at creative problem-solving and be proficient at conflict resolution. They should also be detailed-oriented and organized, able to keep track of many moving parts in an organization at once. HR professionals should also be highly empathetic and good listeners, able to be viewed as a supportive, trusted resource by employees and as dependable advisors on strategy by business leaders.

Career outlook for HR professionals 
The BLS estimates that HR specialists will see 7 percent growth between 2016 and 2026, with HR managers experiencing 9 percent growth during this same period. As companies increase their focus on employee engagement, they’ll be looking for skilled talent ready to address the challenges and opportunities of modern HR.

While demand for general HR professionals is strong, there is also high demand for professionals with specialties in certain areas. A data analysis by Indeed conducted in May 2017 found that recruiter was the most in-demand HR-related job title, followed by HR manager and HR generalist.

The 2016 median annual salary for an HR specialist was $59,180, according to the BLS. However, salary prospects are higher for HR managers, who had a 2016 median annual pay of $106,910.

If you want to help create more positive employee experiences and inspiring company cultures, consider working in HR. It is an exciting, rewarding career path for those who are passionate about this vitally important field.