An Analysis of HR Certification Value and Demand in Internet Job Announcements

As human resources certifications become prominent measures of occupational competency, HR professionals are increasingly curious about the value these credentials provide for individuals and organizations. This study examines connections between the demand for HR certifications and job posting sources, job type, industry, experience, and education requirements. Analyzing data from two job announcement websites, this study determines the worth of HR certifications by using demand for certifications as a signal of value. Expanding the work of Lyons et al. (2011), the present study serves as a temporal benchmark and finds nearly 20% of job announcements require or prefer a form of HR certification. Demand is positively related to experience, higher-level positions and education.