In today’s fast-evolving workplace, Human Resources (HR) professionals in Canada are navigating a landscape reshaped by AI, hybrid work models, evolving employment law, and increased pressure for inclusive and equitable practices. Whether you're working toward your CPHR, CHRP, or CHRL designation, or maintaining one, staying current isn't just smart—it’s essential for long-term career resilience and professional credibility.

This article explores the most in-demand HR skills for 2025, how they align with your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours, and how to ensure your activities meet the provincial guidelines set by CPHR Alberta, HRPA Ontario, CPHR BC & Yukon, and other certifying bodies across Canada.

Why 2025 Is a Turning Point for HR

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report, over 40% of workplace skills are expected to shift by 2025. For HR professionals, this means acquiring new competencies in:

Digital fluency and emerging technologies
Strategic workforce planning and data interpretation
Enhanced employee experience delivery
DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) leadership at every level
Understanding the ethical implications of AI in HR

HR is no longer viewed solely as an administrative function—it now plays a direct role in organizational growth, innovation, and resilience. As business models transform, HR professionals are expected to lead initiatives that support agility, psychological safety, and proactive change.

Understanding CPD Hours in Canada

To maintain your CPHR, CHRP, or CHRL designation, you’re required to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) on a regular cycle. These structured learning activities help you remain current with changing legislation, workplace technologies, and emerging HR practices.

Common CPD activities include courses, webinars, research, speaking engagements, mentoring, and participating in governance or strategic HR projects. To ensure your activities align with your provincial body’s expectations, visit the following resource: CPD Requirements for HR Professionals in Canada (2025)

This comprehensive guide covers all major provinces and offers clarity on what counts, how to submit, and where to log your activities. Planning early and tracking consistently will help you meet requirements with confidence.

Top HR Skills You Need to Master in 2025

1. People Analytics and HR Tech

As HR becomes increasingly data-driven, professionals must master tools that track, analyze, and interpret workforce trends. From turnover forecasting to sentiment analysis, data is essential for strategic planning.

Recommended Course:

HR Essentials: Predicting and Managing Employee Turnover

This course teaches HR professionals how to apply predictive analytics to employee turnover using the R programming language and decision tree models. Through hands-on exercises, learners will explore data preparation, analysis, and visualization techniques, gaining practical insights into data-driven decision-making. Ideal for those looking to enhance their People Analytics skills and earn CPD hours.

2. DEI Strategy and Cultural Competence

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is no longer optional. Organizations expect HR to drive accountability through policy, education, and performance metrics that embed DEI into the culture.

Recommended Courses:

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace

In this Webcast, a panel of thought leaders and practitioners will discuss the importance of DEI in the workplace and provide practical advice on how firms can develop actionable objectives. Speakers, among other things, will also share some of the challenges and opportunities companies face in implementing DEI initiatives.

Fostering Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

In this course, we’ll be joined by Robin Turnill, MHRM, FCPHR, SHRM-SCP, CPCC, who has held many DEI programs for large corporations. She will share her experience, real-life examples, and the most successful strategies that anyone can implement.

3. Change Management and Organizational Development

Hybrid workplaces, AI disruption, and organizational restructuring demand that HR professionals guide both leaders and teams through change. Competence in transformation planning, communication, and workforce resilience is key.

Recommended Courses:

Change Management Corporate University

This presentation is designed to help change leaders in identifying the benefits, making the case, and architecting an internal customized corporate academy/university integrated with their Change Management Center of Excellence, to meet the forward demands of their organizations.

Navigating Change Now

In today’s fast-paced business environment, rapid change is the norm. This interactive session will teach you neuroscience techniques to overcome fear and encourage positive associations with change. Key outcomes include: - Focusing on solutions - Viewing change as an opportunity - Boosting innovation and teamwork

4. Employment Law & Ethical Practice

With frequent legal updates across provinces, HR professionals must understand both foundational employment laws and ethical considerations tied to privacy, terminations, accommodations, and AI tools.

Recommended Courses:

Employment Law 101

This webinar details some of the key provisions of the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000, including the definition of wages, vacation, overtime, layoffs, and other important standards.

Employment Law and Best Practices

This course provides an essential overview of your legal rights and responsibilities as an employer. You'll gain a clear understanding of the key laws that govern the employer-employee relationship and learn how to navigate common legal issues in the workplace.

5. HR Leadership & Business Strategy

The future of HR is strategic. Those who can align talent strategy with business goals will have the most influence and impact within their organizations. Senior HR leaders must speak the language of business while managing people outcomes.

Recommended Courses:

Strategic Leadership

In this course, we define culture, organizational culture, components of culture, strategies with values and virtues, kinds of cultures, and steps to develop a plan of action. If culture is not intentional, it will develop on its own. We focus on cognitive and emotional cultures with how to develop each.

Breakthrough Leadership

This Leadership course will introduce you to the key questions and exercises to unleash your potential as a leader and the potential of those you lead. This course is designed to open up new ways of thinking about your job so that you can engage your stakeholders in a new way that creates opportunity and growth.

How to Track and Submit Your CPD Credits

Planning your CPD activities doesn’t have to be overwhelming. A proactive approach makes the process manageable and beneficial for your career.

Start by using a CPD tracker—either a simple spreadsheet or your provincial body’s online portal. Document each activity's name, provider, hours, category, and supporting proof such as certificates or confirmation emails.

Set quarterly goals to avoid last-minute cramming. Align your CPD selections with your current role, future ambitions, or specific competency gaps. The LearnFormula HR CPD Portal offers built-in tracking, instant certificates, and curated content for Canadian HR professionals.

When ready to submit, use your province’s designated portal such as HRPA’s CPD log or CPHR Alberta’s MyCPHR system. Early submission can help avoid delays during recertification cycles.

Conclusion

The HR profession is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades. From AI adoption and regulatory updates to cultural shifts and skills realignment, 2025 will demand more from HR professionals than ever before.

Invest in future-ready HR skills, choose accredited CPD courses, and maintain organized records to ensure you meet your designation requirements with ease. These efforts not only keep you compliant but also help you lead more effectively and contribute lasting value to your organization.

Begin your journey today with LearnFormula’s curated HR CPD library, built for Canadian professionals striving toward excellence in CPHR, CHRP, and CHRL designations.

Q&A: Common Questions About HR Skills and CPD in 2025

Q: How many CPD hours do I need to maintain my HR designation?
A: Requirements vary by province. Most designations require 60–100 hours over a 3-year cycle. Visit this guide for a full breakdown by region.

Q: Do online courses count toward CPD hours?
A: Yes. As long as the course content aligns with your HR competency framework and is delivered by a credible provider like LearnFormula, it qualifies.

Q: Can I count mentoring or volunteering?
A: Absolutely. Many provincial HR bodies accept mentoring and HR-related volunteer roles as valid CPD activities.

Q: What’s the easiest way to track CPD hours?
A: Use a simple tracker with categories like activity name, provider, duration, and proof of completion. The LearnFormula CPD Portal simplifies this with automatic tracking and downloadable certificates.

Q: How do I choose which skills to focus on?
A: Start by reviewing your current role and career goals. Align your CPD activities with gaps in skills like people analytics, leadership, or DEI strategy—areas that are increasingly in demand.