In the last decade, Analytics in HR has taken the world of Human Resource Management by storm. The last time the world of Human Resource Management saw such a revolution was , when experts introduced the disruptive concept of Competency into the domain. Today, concepts such as HR Analytics, Workforce Analytics, People Analytics and Talent Analytics have become a sort of popular phenomena in the HR world. HR professionals are increasingly using these terms to know , what has happened in the past, what is the present state of affairs , and also for predicting trends in the business.
We have looked into the differences between these four terms, in detail, in the following blog earlier:
What is the Difference Between HR Analytics, People Analytics, Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics ?
We have elaborated upon the differences among them as above . It will then be the the most appropriate thing , to know what is their popularity and trends. We have made an attempt to do the same.
1.0 Popularity and trends of HR Analytics, People Analytics ,Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics in the world
1.1 Search trends on Google, as per interest shown , to indicate popularity and trends of above four terms , in the world
The diagram below presents the google trends of searches of the above four terms for the period , August 2004- July 2020.
It is clear from the above diagram, that HR Analytics and People Analytics were the highest search topics , during the period 2004- 2020. Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics followed them subsequently..
We have graphically depicted the interest in these terms in the above diagram.
It clearly shows that HR Analytics and People Analytics has generated an increasing amount of interest from the HR fraternity. This actually happened in the last decade and a half of the period 2004- 2020 . it is noteworthy that interest in Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics , has not changed significantly, in the last five years. It is almost static.
The above diagram also shows the average of total searches of the four terms , during the period , 2004- 2020. We have shown this , in a histogram , on the left side of the graph. It is clear that HR fraternity have more or less similar levels of searches in HR Analytics and People Analytics.
However, searches in case of Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics were much less in comparison to the first two.
1.2 Search of four terms in the last one year ( 2019- 2020) ,to show popularity and trends in the world
The author has also tried to ascertain the trends in the last one year ( August 2019- July 2020)
To zoom in on this a little bit, let’s look at how these search terms have fared in the last one year.
It is worthwhile to note that in the last one year, Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics are almost static. They are at a much lower level than the first two..
On the other hand, HR Analytics and People Analytics are at much higher level than Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics. The latter two are also closely competing with each other for the top slot.
2.0 Region wise distribution of Google searches in the world , for four terms , to show popularity and trends in the world
The descriptions in section 1.0 show us , the worldwide popularity of these four search-terms . However, it is important to remember that there could be variances regionally as well.
Certain terms could gain more traction in a region compared to others. This may depend upon unique socioeconomic factors, and different spheres of influences enjoyed by opinion makers.
2.1 Search of four terms in USA in 2019-2020, to indicate popularity and trends
To illustrate the statement made in section 2.0, let us look at the the region of USA.
Here,the search term “People Analytics” has a clear advantage over it’s nearest competitor “HR Analytics” in August 2019- July 2020 . The interest shown, as per Google searches , in USA , is the highest for People Analytics , followed by HR Analytics .
Workforce and Talent Analytics are faring much less in comparison to the first two, as per below diagram.
2.2 Search of of four terms in India in August 2019- July 2020, to indicate popularity and trends
Let us now compare the results of USA , as mentioned in section 2.1, with those of another large economy - India.
We find the results to be somewhat different, as depicted in the diagram below for the year 2019-2020
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As is clear from the above diagram, the search term “HR Analytics” has maintained a steady lead over the other terms, including “People Analytics” ,consistently over the last year. Further, People Analytics has come pretty close to HR Analytics in the last 3 months of the year , starting August 2019. However, it has dipped in the last month of the year.
It is also evident that Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics are at much lower level than that of the first two , throughout the year.
2.3 Popularity and trends of Google searches for 4 terms around the world , during the period 2004-2020
To understand, how the popularity of the search terms varies across regions, let’s look at search volumes for the two terms on a map of the world. We have indicated the popularity of the terms by the color and its intensity.
The above diagram shows the breakdown of search terms in different regions of the world. The diagram shows that readers searched HR analytics mostly in Asia, Russia , Africa and parts of Europe.
On the other hand, the readers in North and South America, Australia and the remaining parts of Europe, searched for People Analytics.
Workforce and Talent Analytics did not register a significant presence geographically world wide, in the graph above , during the period August 2004 - July 2020.
The above revelation is very important. It establishes that HR Analytics and People Analytics are the two most important concepts in the world . Readers are searching and consequently using them also (as a corollary).
Notwithstanding the above, the concepts of Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics also remain relevant , and we can not ignore them.
3. Conclusions
Based on the discussions in the preceding sections, we may arrive at the following conclusions:
- Search on Google shows that HR Analytics and People Analytics have grown tremendously, as per interest shown, in the year starting August 2019. The two concepts are competing with each other and they have left Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics way behind .
- HR Analytics and People Analytics come on the top , after taking the average of searches during August 2019- July 2020.
On the other hand, Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics are much less than those of HR Analytics and People Analytics .
- Region wise searches of these four terms on google, during 2004-2020, reveal the following :
o HR Analytics is in use ,on a wider scale, in Asia , Africa , Russia and parts of Europe.
o Readers in North and South America, Australia and remaining parts of Europe apply People Analytics in a bigger way
o Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics were in use, sparingly, in the whole world during the period .
- The interest shown and searches made in the last one year, during 2019-2020, in USA
reveal that People Analytics topped the list , followed by HR Analytics . Workforce Analytics and
Talent Analytics fared much lower in comparison to the above two terms.
- Similarly for one of the major economies of the world , India, HR Analytics topped the list . People Analytics fared much less in comparison to HR Analytics in the first 9 months of 2019-2020. However, during the last 3 months of 2019-2020, it started competing with HR Analytics. This was , when People Analytics came pretty close to HR Analytics . But it dipped again in the last month of the year 2019-2020.
-Workforce Analytics and Talent Analytics fared much less in India , during the year, starting August 2019, in comparison to HR Analytics.
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