Workforce planning is a core business process which aligns changing organisation needs with a people strategy. It can be the most effective activity an organisation can engage in. It can provide market and industry intelligence to help organisations focus on a range of challenges and issues. 

Discover our resources including factsheets and guides, to help you with your workplace planning needs.

All topics A-Z

Factsheets

Regularly-updated factsheets provide overviews and information on a topic

Three Factsheets about Workforce planning
Factsheet
Workforce planning
Explores the benefits of workforce planning, the activities involved and the stages of the workforce planning process
Factsheet
Job design
Explores the purpose and evolution of job design, its role in creating good work, and assessing job quality.
Factsheet
Succession planning
Understand what succession planning involves, the link between succession planning and talent management programmes, and the role of people professionals in the process

Guides

Designed for practitioners, our guides provide recommendations and advice on how to apply good practice in the workplace.

Four Guides about Workforce planning
Guide
Supporting your workforce through a crisis event
Key considerations and resources to help you support your people in exceptional times
Guide
Operating in tough economic conditions
Key considerations and resources to help steer your organisation through difficult conditions
Guide
Technology use in recruitment and workforce planning
Guidance on how technology can be used responsibly to help manage people
For Members
Guide
Strategic workforce planning: Guide for people professionals
Understand what strategic workforce planning is and how to do it
For Members

Reports

Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations

Three Reports about Workforce planning
Report
Resourcing and talent planning report
Trend analysis and benchmarking data on recruitment, retention and talent management to inform HR and employers on practice considerations and decision-making
Report
Migrant workers and skills shortages in the UK
This report looks at the role of immigration in the context of the post-Brexit skills challenges
Report
Megatrends: Ageing gracefully – the opportunities of an older workforce
This report examines the opportunities afforded by extending working lives as the UK’s ageing population continues to expand

Thought leadership

Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work

One Thought leadership about Workforce planning
Thought leadership
Protecting young people from unemployment
Lizzie Crowley focuses on how the current pandemic will affect youth employment

Podcasts

Listen to episodes from our podcast series on a range of topical workplace, HR and L&D issues.

One Podcast about Workforce planning
Podcast
The many merits of workforce planning
Episode 150: Workforce planning practices can deliver a higher return on investment and offer insights into the future of work

Webinars

Webinar recordings providing expert guidance

One Webinar about Workforce planning
Webinar
CIPD Power Breakfast Panel: Workforce Mobility
Watch the event recording from the live panel discussion held at Raffles Hotel, Singapore, and pick up insights on the latest trends in workforce mobility

Bitesize research

Your regular overview of current research, inspiring insights and cutting-edge ideas in bitesize

One Bitesize research about Workforce planning
Bitesize research
Reward and Generation Z
Reward preferences of the youngest generation
For Members

Learning

We offer a range of evidence-based courses tailored to suit you and your needs.
Our Essential Insights courses are free as part of the CIPD membership.

Strategic Workforce Planning Accredited Programme

Gain expertise in the practical application of critical workforce planning steps for organisational resilience in the ever-changing world of work.

Strategic Workforce Planning Programme

Plan for future workforce requirements and explore how alignment between business processes and people strategy is key to achieving business goals.

Introduction to Strategic Workforce Planning

Explore how to use workforce planning strategically to anticipate the current and future resource requirements your organisation needs to meet its objectives.

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