Research Library
Using the Research Library
The research below is drawn from more than five years of industry studies, practitioner interviews, and deep analysis of the most important topics facing talent leaders today.
Feel free to use the categories below to find what you are looking for, or you can search for content that matters most to you.
Research Reports and Graphics
Speed, Trust, and the Candidate AI Takeover: 2025 TA Trends [New Report]
The talent landscape in 2025 is defined by contradiction: there’s no shortage of people looking for meaningful work—and yet employers across industries are struggling to fill roles. While many organizations paused hiring decisions during the uncertainty of recent election cycles, that hesitation hasn’t resolved itself with the calendar. Each generation of candidates looking for work…
PEO as a People Strategy: Research Shows Value, Impact, and Opportunity [Report]
Have you ever watched a professional juggler? It’s pretty incredible. With their practiced hands and expert skill, they can add a seemingly endless number of objects to their routine, keeping them in the air for quite some time. But the truth is that no matter how good someone is at juggling, eventually one of the…
2024 HR Tech M&A Activity: A Year of Resilience and Growth
The HR technology market in 2024 was a story of resilience and growth amidst a rapidly changing global landscape. With the U.S. election dominating headlines and sparking conversations around the future of work, and consumer confidence rebounding from the challenges of prior years, the HR tech space has continued to demonstrate its vital role in…
How Learning and Skill Development Affect Business Agility, Employee Belonging, and Productivity [Report]
There’s an old proverb that essentially states “the shoemaker’s children have no shoes.” The more modern version is “the cobbler’s children have no shoes,” even though handmade shoes are mostly a lost art. However, the metaphor still has a profound message. Where we have expertise, we often use that expertise for the benefit of others,…
Performance Management is Out: Performance Enablement is In
In the realm of organizational success, the approach to enhancing employee performance is undergoing a significant transformation. Gone are the days when traditional performance management methods—marked by goal-setting, monitoring, and reviewing—were the norms. These outdated practices, often criticized for their ineffectiveness and tendency to induce stress, are making way for a more dynamic and supportive…
Ghosting isn’t Unsolvable [Infographic]
The phenomenon of candidate ghosting, where candidates suddenly cease communication with potential employers, has become an increasing concern in the hiring landscape. This trend manifests in various forms, including candidates who apply and never respond to outreach, individuals who participate in interviews but vanish without feedback and even new hires who fail to show up…
The Powerful Intersection of Performance, Development, and Recognition [Infographic]
The confluence of employee performance, development, and recognition within an organization holds transformative power as a cornerstone for fostering an invigorating and productive workplace atmosphere. When these elements are effectively integrated and supported, they enhance individual engagement and satisfaction and propel the organization’s collective success forward. Conversely, lacking adequate support in these areas can lead…
Creating a Positive Data-Driven Employee Experience [Infographic]
Crafting a top-notch employee experience is all about creating a workplace where everyone feels engaged, processes run smoothly, and the overall culture adds value. The secret? Using the right data at the right times. This approach transforms the day-to-day for employees, aligning their personal journey with the company’s goals. And here’s something interesting in our…
Quality of Hire is Critical: How to Make it Count
Recently there’s been a considerable amount of discussion on LinkedIn about this concept called “talent density.” Essentially it means that employers have to ensure that they have a high-quality workforce (a high concentration, or density, of top performers). In my opinion it’s just another name for quality of hire, the top metric that talent acquisition…
2024 Talent Acquisition Trends: What’s New and What’s Next [Report]
Every year I look forward to our team’s survey and analysis of the talent acquisition market, because it’s a space that moves quickly and has a tremendous amount of innovation both in the technologies as well as the practices that employers use to create successful outcomes. This year’s report is no exception, highlighting what is…
Case Studies
How Paycor Transformed Workforce Management for All City Management Services (ACMS)
Paycor: Empowering Leaders to Build Winning Teams Paycor is a leader in Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, delivering a unified experience for all things HR. With an unrivaled product depth and a single source of truth for employee data, Paycor ensures that users never have to switch platforms, log in to multiple systems, or re-key…
How Quantum Workplace Helped Seacoast Bank Build a Culture of Listening and Engagement
Quantum Workplace: Empowering Employee Success Through Engagement and Performance Quantum Workplace is redefining how organizations drive employee success by creating tools that prioritize engagement, performance, and alignment. With over two decades of data and methodology backing its solutions, Quantum Workplace has become the trusted partner for organizations seeking to inspire impact and build a magnetic…
How DuraServ Used isolved to Transform HR Insights and Gain Actionable Workforce Analytics
isolved: Transforming Employee Experience and People Analytics For nearly 40 years, isolved has been at the forefront of transforming employee experiences through its innovative human capital management (HCM) platform, isolved People Cloud. Originally established to help businesses navigate COBRA, isolved has evolved into a leading provider of integrated HR solutions for businesses of all sizes.…
How iCIMS Helped SiteOne Boost Completed Applications by 55% and Revolutionize Recruitment Strategies
iCIMS: Building Winning Workforces with Talent Acquisition Technology iCIMS is a global leader in talent acquisition technology, empowering organizations to attract, engage, hire, and retain top talent. With over 20 years of innovation, iCIMS has transformed how organizations worldwide connect with the right people and build exceptional candidate and employee experiences. In 2023 alone, iCIMS…
How Dolphin Hotel Management Transformed Hiring with Paycor’s Recruiting Solution
Paycor: Empowering Leaders to Build Winning Teams Paycor is a leader in Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, designed to empower leaders with the tools they need to streamline HR processes and focus on strategic initiatives like talent development, employee engagement, and retention. Offering a unified platform for all things HR, Paycor eliminates the need for…
Driving Retention and Skills Transformation with Phenom’s Employee-First Solutions
Phenom: Redefining Talent Acquisition and Development with AI Phenom is transforming talent management by creating AI-driven solutions that connect candidates, employees, recruiters, and managers across a seamless platform. By fostering personalized, skills-forward experiences, Phenom helps organizations hire faster, develop employees to their full potential, and retain top talent longer. Phenom’s Intelligent Talent Experience platform powers…
How Paycor Empowered All City Management Services (ACMS)
Paycor: Empowering Leaders with Comprehensive HCM Solutions Paycor revolutionizes human capital management (HCM) by delivering a unified platform that simplifies workforce operations while driving strategic value for leaders. Paycor’s solutions empower organizations to streamline recruitment, onboarding, payroll, and career development processes, providing a single source of truth for employee data and enabling more effective decision-making.…
How Longchamp USA Boosted Retention and Streamlined Compliance with Mineral’s HR Solutions
Mineral: The HR and Compliance Partner for Growing Businesses Mineral, a Mitratech company, is the trusted HR and compliance leader for small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Serving over 1 million businesses through partnerships with 2,500 insurance brokers, health insurers, PEOs, and HCMs, Mineral provides the tools, data, and human expertise needed to simplify HR compliance. Its flagship…
How Oviva Healthcare Achieved a 301% ROI and Reduced Employee Turnover by 10.5% with HiBob
HiBob: Redefining HCM for a Global, People-First World HiBob’s modern HCM platform, Bob, empowers companies to navigate today’s global and hybrid workplace with people-first strategies. Designed for organizations with 100-8,000 employees and dispersed teams, Bob streamlines HR processes, supports data-driven decision-making, and creates exceptional employee experiences. HiBob partners with over 3,600 global companies, including Extreme…
How Paycor Helped Dolphin Hotel Management Win the War for Talent
Paycor: Empowering Leaders with Comprehensive HCM Solutions Paycor revolutionizes human capital management (HCM) by providing a unified platform designed to simplify and enhance every aspect of workforce management. From streamlining recruitment to empowering leaders with actionable insights, Paycor’s technology supports industries like healthcare, food and beverage, manufacturing, and professional services. Paycor focuses on empowering frontline…
Videos, Interviews, and Podcasts
RPO Buyer Study: Key Findings and Preferences [New Research]
Each year we partner with the RPO Association to produce a research study to examine and understand how the recruitment process outsourcing market is changing, what buyers expect, and the realities of the current landscape. Our latest report was recently released featuring findings from more than 500 RPO buyers, and it’s currently available at no…
Lighthouse Listens: 6 Innovative Talent Acquisition Technologies
As part of our ongoing research efforts, our team meets with technology providers across the HR, talent, and learning space on a regular basis. Last month we held a special set of briefings as part of a talent acquisition deep dive we called Lighthouse Listens. In it, we met with six different providers touching on…
Predicting Pay and Skills From Job Market Intelligence Data on #HRTechTalks
In today’s world, things change and evolve so quickly. Take pay for instance. It’s changing faster than the surveys and other data sources can keep up. So what do we do? One area of emerging data comes from labor market intelligence tools. In this episode of #hrtechtalks, we chat with Cary Sparrow, CEO of Greenwich.HR,…
Personalization and Wellness: How AI Supports Wellbeing at Scale
“You need to have a competitive pay and benefits offering. When you go to do that, the employer ends up paying for a lot of things that go unused just because there’s too much to communicate. What’s just amazing about the time and space we’re in now is you can really use personalization to surface…
Compliance Challenges? You’re Not Alone: Featuring ThinkHR/MammothHR on HR Tech Talks
Since the start of this year, multiple new laws have passed that change responsibilities for employers, and that’s just a small sample of the overall changes in the workplace over the last few years. Even when you’re focusing on those evolving requirements, it can be overwhelming to decipher what applies to your company and how to adopt the new regulations.
In this discussion on HR Tech Talks, I am going to chat with Nathan Christensen, CEO of Mammoth/ThinkHR about why navigating compliance is a critical skill set for HR leaders and how his team supports this need for the business (without breaking the bank).
#HRTechTalks
Solving Pay Equity and Comp Challenges: Featuring Curo Compensation on HR Tech Talks
More and more companies across the globe are attempting to tackle the pay equity issue, but it’s not always easy if you don’t have the right tools to support the process. In some brand new research at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, we found that compensation technology is not only becoming more powerful, but it’s becoming a staple of the HR leader’s toolbox for navigating pay decisions across the board.
In this episode, I’m talking with Ruth Thomas of Curo Compensation about how this company has exploded into the scene of compensation management tools. We’ll also cover the firm’s priority focus on pay equity and how it is helping employers to create a fair and equitable playing field when it comes to pay.
#HRTechTalks
Embracing Flexibility in Your Talent System: PeopleFluent on HR Tech Talks
When HR technology first became a “thing,” tools were rigid and structured. Today, some tools are still that way, but others have taken the opposite approach: they allow employers to customize and tailor the settings and capabilities around their unique and specific needs.
In our 2020 research, we found that 97% of firms that say they are adaptable also say that their HR technology plays a key part in that flexibility.
In this episode of HR Tech Talks, I’m going to talk with Stephen Bruce of PeopleFluent about how his firm has adopted this approach and how it results in better customer relationships, stronger capabilities that fit each client’s needs, and deep expertise in talent. We’ll touch on talent mobility, talent analytics, and the need for a flexible system to meet the needs of an agile organization.
#hrtechtalks
Technology Reviews
UNLEASH Op Ed: Four HR tech innovators CHROs need to know about
Approximately 300. That’s the number of HR technology products I personally see in a given year across the briefings and events I attend and the HR Tech Awards program run by our team. That seems like a lot, but some estimates put the total number of HR technology-related products in the thousands. Taking care of…
HR Tech Awards 2025 Winners Announced
In our daily work with talent leaders and solution providers, we run into some incredible technology. These tools available to organizations right now can help them hire, develop, and retain their people, and the platforms and systems are amazing in their ability to support intelligent decisions, personalized actions, and more. According to nearly 10 years…
Solution Provider Review: HiBob
Bob, the modern Human Capital Management (HCM) platform from HiBob, is designed to streamline HR processes, enhance employee engagement, and support dynamic, fast-growing companies. With features like automated workflows, people analytics, and performance management, Bob helps HR teams improve efficiency and create a more engaging workplace experience. Its intuitive, user-friendly design enables companies to foster…
2024 HR Tech M&A Activity: A Year of Resilience and Growth
The HR technology market in 2024 was a story of resilience and growth amidst a rapidly changing global landscape. With the U.S. election dominating headlines and sparking conversations around the future of work, and consumer confidence rebounding from the challenges of prior years, the HR tech space has continued to demonstrate its vital role in…
Maximizing ROI in the Modern Workplace: How Employee Experience Technology Drives Business Performance
Understanding Employee Experience Technology Employee experience technology encompasses tools designed to improve various aspects of an employee’s journey within a company. These tools aim to streamline processes, boost employee engagement, and facilitate a more connected and productive workplace culture, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and offboarding. The essence of this technology lies in…
How Paycor Transformed Workforce Management for All City Management Services (ACMS)
Paycor: Empowering Leaders to Build Winning Teams Paycor is a leader in Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, delivering a unified experience for all things HR. With an unrivaled product depth and a single source of truth for employee data, Paycor ensures that users never have to switch platforms, log in to multiple systems, or re-key…
How Quantum Workplace Helped Seacoast Bank Build a Culture of Listening and Engagement
Quantum Workplace: Empowering Employee Success Through Engagement and Performance Quantum Workplace is redefining how organizations drive employee success by creating tools that prioritize engagement, performance, and alignment. With over two decades of data and methodology backing its solutions, Quantum Workplace has become the trusted partner for organizations seeking to inspire impact and build a magnetic…
How DuraServ Used isolved to Transform HR Insights and Gain Actionable Workforce Analytics
isolved: Transforming Employee Experience and People Analytics For nearly 40 years, isolved has been at the forefront of transforming employee experiences through its innovative human capital management (HCM) platform, isolved People Cloud. Originally established to help businesses navigate COBRA, isolved has evolved into a leading provider of integrated HR solutions for businesses of all sizes.…
How iCIMS Helped SiteOne Boost Completed Applications by 55% and Revolutionize Recruitment Strategies
iCIMS: Building Winning Workforces with Talent Acquisition Technology iCIMS is a global leader in talent acquisition technology, empowering organizations to attract, engage, hire, and retain top talent. With over 20 years of innovation, iCIMS has transformed how organizations worldwide connect with the right people and build exceptional candidate and employee experiences. In 2023 alone, iCIMS…
How Dolphin Hotel Management Transformed Hiring with Paycor’s Recruiting Solution
Paycor: Empowering Leaders to Build Winning Teams Paycor is a leader in Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, designed to empower leaders with the tools they need to streamline HR processes and focus on strategic initiatives like talent development, employee engagement, and retention. Offering a unified platform for all things HR, Paycor eliminates the need for…
See the Latest from Lighthouse Research & Advisory
Your Culture’s Heartbeat: Are You Listening?
A Healthy Culture Pulse Starts with Recognition and Support Every workplace has a rhythm—a culture pulse—that tells the story of its people. A positive culture pulse is energized by trust, a sense of belonging, and consistent communication. A negative culture pulse, on the other hand, reveals low morale, disconnection, and a lack of recognition. Employees…
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Frontline Workforce Insights: New Data and On Demand Access to Livestream
Last week our team ran a livestream for hundreds of employers with frontline workers. During that session, we explored topics ranging from talent acquisition and communications to feedback and scheduling/flexibility. Want to see the full session? On demand signup is here. A few key findings from the study: As the graphic below indicates, today, about…
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The Great Learning Disconnect: What Your Employees Aren’t Telling You [Report]
Psychology research shows that when we face an overwhelming number of challenges, it’s easy to lose hope and feel helpless. In reality, today’s employees are faced with more challenges than ever before, and while some of the variables are outside employer control, that doesn’t make the situation any less difficult for the workforce. For example,…
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Speed, Trust, and the Candidate AI Takeover: 2025 TA Trends [New Report]
The talent landscape in 2025 is defined by contradiction: there’s no shortage of people looking for meaningful work—and yet employers across industries are struggling to fill roles. While many organizations paused hiring decisions during the uncertainty of recent election cycles, that hesitation hasn’t resolved itself with the calendar. Each generation of candidates looking for work…
Read More
Employee Experience Can Make or Break Organizational Success—Here’s How to Make it WORK
I’m sure we’ve read stories or been a part of these conversations on how, in today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, one thing remains clear: the experience you create for your employees directly impacts your organization’s success. Employee experience (EX) isn’t just a trendy concept—it’s the driving force behind productivity, retention, innovation, and organizational growth.…
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UNLEASH Op Ed: Four HR tech innovators CHROs need to know about
Approximately 300. That’s the number of HR technology products I personally see in a given year across the briefings and events I attend and the HR Tech Awards program run by our team. That seems like a lot, but some estimates put the total number of HR technology-related products in the thousands. Taking care of…
Read More
HR Tech Awards 2025 Winners Announced
In our daily work with talent leaders and solution providers, we run into some incredible technology. These tools available to organizations right now can help them hire, develop, and retain their people, and the platforms and systems are amazing in their ability to support intelligent decisions, personalized actions, and more. According to nearly 10 years…
Read More
An Evolving Landscape: Thoughts in Advance of Publishing the Third Edition of Artificial Intelligence for HR
Later this year (September, to be more specific), the third edition of my book Artificial Intelligence for HR will be released. As the first book in the world on this topic back in 2018, the initial edition was used by educators and employers worldwide to understand just how AI is changing the workplace. But as…
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Generational Views: Three Generations, Three Hiring Mindsets.
Generational Views: Three Generations, Three Hiring Mindsets In the current state of hiring, employers must navigate the preferences and expectations of diverse generations. By creating an adaptive hiring environment, businesses can bridge the GAP (Generational Adaptable Practices) and thrive. Here’s how: G – Grow Relationships Fostering strong relationships with potential employees is crucial across all…
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UNLEASH Column: Is AI Causing Cognitive Decline?
Note: Our team is working closely with UNLEASH this year on a series of activities, including a quarterly column penned by yours truly. This is the first in the series as I bring research to show that the newest fad, generative AI, may have long-lasting and dangerous side effects. What if the tools used by…
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Solution Provider Review: HiBob
Bob, the modern Human Capital Management (HCM) platform from HiBob, is designed to streamline HR processes, enhance employee engagement, and support dynamic, fast-growing companies. With features like automated workflows, people analytics, and performance management, Bob helps HR teams improve efficiency and create a more engaging workplace experience. Its intuitive, user-friendly design enables companies to foster…
Read More
Redefining RTO: Creating Meaningful Workplaces in the New Era of RTO.
As organizations navigate the new landscape of returning to the office, both employers and employees face a myriad of challenges. Employers must balance the logistics of maintaining safe, productive work environments with the need to foster morale and collaboration. At the same time, employees may grapple with anxieties around commuting, adjusting to altered work rhythms,…
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PEO as a People Strategy: Research Shows Value, Impact, and Opportunity [Report]
Have you ever watched a professional juggler? It’s pretty incredible. With their practiced hands and expert skill, they can add a seemingly endless number of objects to their routine, keeping them in the air for quite some time. But the truth is that no matter how good someone is at juggling, eventually one of the…
Read More
The Future of Talent Acquisition: Adapting to 2025’s Hiring Landscape
As a seasoned HR leader recalls, a candidate once astounded them by flawlessly adapting to the company’s application process, highlighting the stark contrasts between those who embrace change and those who resist. This story underscores a broader truth in talent acquisition: adaptability is crucial. Today, many organizations find themselves at a crossroads, needing to redefine…
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The Human Touch in Leadership: Driving Success Through Authenticity and Employee Engagement
In a world where businesses are constantly in flux, leadership is the cornerstone that can uphold or crumble an organization. “The Human Touch in Leadership: Driving Success Through Authenticity and Employee Engagement” is not just a concept but a strategic approach that marries profitability with a profound respect for the workforce. In this blog, I…
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