Analytics · HR glossary

Workforce Forecasting

Workforce forecasting estimates future staffing supply or demand using assumptions and data. Forecasts may consider sales, service volumes, turnover, retirements and expected changes in productivity.

Example

A planner estimates next year's customer-support demand from expected account growth, then models how departures and new hires could affect available staffing.

What to keep in mind

Record the assumptions and compare forecasts with actual outcomes. Forecast error is useful feedback; a precise-looking number does not remove uncertainty about demand or employee movements.

Further reading

← Browse all HR terms