In 2015, an improving economy wasn't enough to allay the concerns of business owners and HR professionals. Stagnant wages, continued high benefits costs and regulatory uncertainty combined to make both employers and employees skittish about the future.

But the underlying movement in the U.S. economy is toward growth, and HR professionals should prepare for the issues that have come with it: competition for workers, demand for flexible benefits, pressure for more productive and healthier workers, and technological innovations that will spur both innovation and new risks.

One of the top issues for HR departments in 2015 was employee recruitment and retention; and this will continue to be a challenge into 2016. HR regulatory compliance, including but not limited to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, continues to be a concern for businesses. And the concept of wellness continues to evolve, with companies motivated to strive for a healthier and more productive workforce.