There is a shortage of Employee Central consultants. Here's why now is the best moment to pivot your career.

For years, companies have been talking about a "talent shortage." But in HR tech, this phrase has a very specific, very real meaning: There are far fewer people who understand HR systems than organizations that need them. And nowhere is this more visible than in the world of SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central (EC).

Employee Central has become the operational heart of HR in thousands of organizations worldwide. Over 9,000 clients use SAP SuccessFactors – and that number continues to grow, creating a dramatic shortage of specialists who can actually configure, maintain, or even navigate it properly. This creates a simple, powerful truth: If you understand Employee Central, you will always be needed.

Why is there a shortage of EC consultants?

Not because the system is new. Not because companies aren't investing. But because:

1. HR digitalization grew faster than the number of trained specialists. Organizations moved to cloud HR platforms faster than the talent pool could grow. Many systems went live before internal teams were ready to support them. Approximately 70% of large enterprises plan to fully migrate their HR systems to the cloud by 2027 (IDC/Gartner), which means the skills gap will only deepen.
2. Most HR professionals know the processes, but not the system. General HR experience is common. System knowledge is not. This difference creates a competitive advantage overnight.
3. SuccessFactors requires both business understanding and system logic. And this combination is rare. Not difficult — just not commonly taught.
4. Companies prefer hiring people who can deliver value from day one. People with system skills move faster through recruitment, onboarding, and salary discussions.

Why Employee Central is the smartest investment you can make right now

Even if you have never worked with systems before. Even if you don't come from IT.

1. EC is the core module. It touches everything: time, payroll, org management, workflows, data. Once you understand EC, you understand how the whole HR ecosystem functions.
2. It opens doors across industries. Manufacturing, finance, retail, pharma, tech — everyone needs EC. You are not tied to a specific sector.
3. It works internationally. SuccessFactors is used globally and is consistently ranked as a leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant and Forrester Wave, which means your skills are portable and sought after by the biggest players.
4. It changes your earning potential. Companies pay for experts because they can reduce the time needed for HR operations, translating into significant value.
5. It is a future-proof skill. The shift toward cloud HR platforms shows no signs of slowing down. Demand for EC knowledge will remain strong for years.

Who exactly benefits from learning Employee Central?

1. HR professionals (generalists, specialists, HRBPs)
   They finally understand how the system behind their daily tasks works, stop relying on IT or external consultants, and move into HR Tech roles.
2. People transitioning careers
   No technical background needed. Combine previous experience with system knowledge, entering the tech world.
3. Junior HR talent and students
   Gives them something 99% of entry-level applicants don't have, accelerating first job opportunities.
4. Consultants already working with SAP or other HR systems
   EC accelerates cross-training and opens project opportunities in large transformation programs.

Why now is the best moment to pivot

The market has shifted. There is more work than people. Organizations cannot run HR operations without someone who understands Employee Central. The path is clear: Demand → Talent gap → Higher expectations → Higher value → Faster hiring → Better long-term opportunities. You can enter this market today — before the talent pool becomes saturated.

How SmartPeople Global Academy helps you get there

We built this course for one reason: to teach you the exact skills companies expect from an EC Consultant. Our course is a direct answer to this demand. This is what real preparation looks like: