Strategic HR Business Partners and C&B Specialists Command Premium in Cautious Market

The Human Resources specialisation in 2025 was largely influenced by global restructuring and right-sizing initiatives from Multinational Corporations (MNCs), leading to workforce redundancies and a pause in generalist hiring. This was accompanied by a strong push for localisation and the shift of HR roles towards strategy due to automation. The biggest takeaway is that candidates are now prioritising stability and strategic growth.

AI Integration and Future-Proofing Roles

Roles that are heavily administrative and transactional, such as HR Assistants (processing basic queries) and parts of Recruitment Coordination (screening resumes), are highly susceptible to automation by AI/Chatbots. HR professionals must pivot to Strategic HR Business Partnering (HRBP), focusing on employee relations, talent development, and change management.

Kathleen Gumayan, Manager for Human Resources and Industrial Divisions at Robert Walters, highlights the new skill requirements:

To thrive, HR professionals need soft skills like resilience and empathy for managing difficult conversations and supporting employee well-being during periods of change. This is essential as the role shifts away from purely administrative tasks toward strategy and business partnership.

Top Sought-After Roles

• Talent Acquisition (TA) Managers/Specialists: Highly skilled professionals are needed to build candidate pipelines and strong employer branding.
• HR Business Partners (HRBPs): Crucial for managing cultural shifts, driving performance, and serving as a strategic partner to the business.
• Compensation & Benefits (C&B) Managers: Essential for designing competitive, yet cost-efficient, total rewards packages.

Retention Advice

Salaries for generalist HR roles will remain stable, but specialist roles (C&B, Organisation Development) and senior HRBP roles with commercial acumen will command significant premiums (up to 20-25% increase). To retain and recruit talent, companies must solidify their Employer Value Proposition (EVP) by clearly communicating long-term stability and career investment.

Salary Benchmark

Robert Walters’ salary survey offers in-depth analysis of compensation changes, candidate motivations, and key hiring trends for 2026. This is the essential data you need to inform your next career move or talent retention strategy. Learn more: https://www.robertwalters.com.ph/our-services/salary-survey.html