HCM Trends Blog – Lighthouse Research & Advisory

4/15/2026

Most AI failures in recruiting aren’t AI failures Most of the writing on why AI underperforms in recruiting starts with a guess. Blame gets directed at the vendor, or the technology, or a market that moved too fast for anyone to keep up. These explanations are hard to disprove and easy to repeat, which is […]

1/30/2026

2025 was a year of big swings in HR technology M&A. Private equity wrote checks measured in billions. Platform vendors went on acquisition sprees. And the learning technology market saw consolidation that will reshape how organizations think about skills development for years to come. For instance, through Q3 2025 alone, Drake Star recorded 650+ HR […]

11/19/2025

AI is Changing Work (and Compensation isn’t Immune) Since 2019, our team has analyzed the changes in compensation technology and data usage along with key trends that influence the near-term and long-term view of the compensation function. In all that time, no other trend or theme has seemed to have the same degree of potential […]

8/28/2025

Just a few hours ago, our team wrapped up an amazing livestream session featuring experts from multiple organizations and perspectives, and the entire event was focused on AI. One of the most celebrated quotes of the day? Humans are people to be served, not problems to be solved. The audience was SO engaged and interactive, […]

8/11/2025

In nearly a decade of researching and writing about artificial intelligence in the workplace, I have seen the technology evolve from a curiosity to a daily companion for many professionals. AI has streamlined tasks, uncovered insights, and opened doors to efficiencies that once seemed impossible. But with every technological leap, there are unintended consequences. One […]

6/30/2025

Psychology research shows that when we face an overwhelming number of challenges, it’s easy to lose hope and feel helpless. In reality, today’s employees are faced with more challenges than ever before, and while some of the variables are outside employer control, that doesn’t make the situation any less difficult for the workforce. For example, […]

5/27/2025

The talent landscape in 2025 is defined by contradiction: there’s no shortage of people looking for meaningful work—and yet employers across industries are struggling to fill roles. While many organizations paused hiring decisions during the uncertainty of recent election cycles, that hesitation hasn’t resolved itself with the calendar. Each generation of candidates looking for work […]

4/18/2025

In our daily work with talent leaders and solution providers, we run into some incredible technology. These tools available to organizations right now can help them hire, develop, and retain their people, and the platforms and systems are amazing in their ability to support intelligent decisions, personalized actions, and more. According to nearly 10 years […]

2/26/2025

Note: Our team is working closely with UNLEASH this year on a series of activities, including a quarterly column penned by yours truly. This is the first in the series as I bring research to show that the newest fad, generative AI, may have long-lasting and dangerous side effects.  What if the tools used by […]

1/14/2025

The HR technology market in 2024 was a story of resilience and growth amidst a rapidly changing global landscape. With the U.S. election dominating headlines and sparking conversations around the future of work, and consumer confidence rebounding from the challenges of prior years, the HR tech space has continued to demonstrate its vital role in […]

1/7/2025

One of the most exciting programs that our team runs every year is the HR Tech Awards. Over the last five years we’ve awarded dozens of companies for their work across talent acquisition, benefits, compensation, talent management, learning, and other key areas. The heart behind this program is to create a way for HR and […]