The HR Research Institute (HRRI) has announced the formation of the 2026 State of Frontline and Volume Hiring Advisory Board, comprising recruitment and talent experts who will guide an upcoming research study and virtual event. This initiative aims to help HR professionals navigate talent acquisition trends, adopt best practices, and prepare for future workforce challenges in high-volume hiring sectors.
The advisory board will focus on several critical areas to shape the research and event content. These include evaluating the effectiveness and maturity of large-scale recruitment strategies, addressing current challenges in frontline and volume hiring, and leveraging technology, automation, and AI to boost hiring efficiency. Additional topics cover enhancing frontline employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention, identifying metrics that measure high-volume hiring outcomes and success, and planning for the future evolution of frontline and volume recruitment.
The resulting virtual event, scheduled for March 19, 2026, will be a free online day of expert sessions offering strategies, solutions, and insights for HR and hiring professionals managing workforces. The newly appointed advisory board members include Clair Bush, GTM, Growth & Marketing Advisor at AMP Strategies and Grayscale; Daniel Goyeneche, Director of Talent at Affiliated Monitoring; Orlando Haynes, NA Talent Acquisition Lead & Program Manager at The Mosaic Company; Martin Mathe, VP of Strategy & Partnerships at Narau; and Rhonda Merchant, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition & D&I at Invited.
Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating that the insights from these experts will equip HR professionals with strategies to meet today's urgent workforce needs and plan for future talent demands. The HR Research Institute, which releases annual "State of the Industry" reports across various HR topics, builds on previous research such as the HR.com's State of Seasonal, Hourly and Volume Hiring 2025 report. These and other free research reports and infographics are available for download, supporting HR professionals in making strategic decisions with informed findings.
The implications of this announcement are significant for industries reliant on frontline and volume hiring, such as retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and healthcare. By addressing challenges like recruitment efficiency and employee retention, the advisory board's work could lead to improved hiring practices, reduced turnover costs, and better workforce planning. For HR professionals, access to this research and the free virtual event provides valuable resources to adapt to evolving labor markets and technological advancements, ultimately impacting organizational productivity and competitiveness in a dynamic economic landscape.
