The number of HR managerial and director-level roles has increased by 20% in the past year, according to analysis of Office for National Statistics data by specialist HR recruiter Ortus.

Over 22,500 extra roles have been created in the last year, a partial recovery from the 44,000 jobs lost between Q2 2009 and Q2 2011. Before this point, senior HR employment levels had been near to 160,000, and stood higher than 140,000 since the second half of 2005.

Meanwhile, the number of interim HR vacancies between January and September was 45% higher than the same time last year, Ortus notes.

Nicholas Croucher, manager of Ortus Interim Division, says: “While HR staff were fundamental to helping businesses restructure during the nadir of the recession in late 2008 and early 2009, the HR industry certainly wasn’t immune to headcount reductions taking place either.

“It’s hugely encouraging to now see a significant rise in HR employment, albeit this has predominantly been in the change management and organisational development space.”