Zalaris
Back to Resource Library

HR benchmarks 2026: How does your function compare?

How does your HR function compare with the wider market? This visual overview brings together selected 2026 benchmarks across HR staffing, spend, recruitment, turnover and AI readiness. Explore the full report for deeper analysis and additional resources.

September 10, 20262 min read
HR benchmarks 2026: How does your function compare?

See where your HR function stands

HR teams are being asked to do more than keep day-to-day operations running. They must support business change, strengthen employee experience, manage compliance, improve workforce decisions and make better use of technology. Yet increased investment does not always create more capacity, and many teams remain pulled back into administration and firefighting.

Benchmarks are most useful when they lead to a better understanding of what is happening within your organisation.

Higher HR spend may reflect deliberate investment, a complex workforce or a broader service scope. Lower spend may indicate efficiency, but it can also point to underinvestment. Similarly, rising budgets without a reduction in workload may suggest that processes, technology or the wider delivery model need attention.

Use the infographic to evaluate your current position, identify possible pressure points and decide where deeper analysis could add value.

It appears you don't have a PDF plugin for this browser.

HRaaS Benchmarking Infographic.pdf

Talk to Zalaris about HRaaS 

If this data has raised questions about your organisation's HR delivery model, Zalaris HR as a Service (HRaaS) provides a scalable, technology-enabled managed service designed to address the capacity, cost, and compliance challenges the benchmarks describe.

With HRaaS, organisations access expert HR and payroll capability on demand, without the fixed overhead of building full in-house teams or the rigidity of traditional outsourcing models. 

Book a 30-minute briefing with our team

FAQ