What Are Human Resources and Human Services?
When deciding between a career path in human resources (HR) and one in human services, it’s important to recognize that the two fields serve very different purposes. Human resources is a business discipline responsible for creating and maintaining a productive, compliant work environment by managing the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, training, compensation, performance management, and policy administration.1 Human services, by contrast, centers on providing support, care, prevention and remediation of problems, and services to individuals and communities in need — often through social work, counseling, rehabilitation, and other helping roles.2
Both fields require strong interpersonal and communication skills, yet the way those skills are applied differs significantly depending on whether the focus is organizational operations or community support.
What Does a Career Path in Human Resources Look Like?
An individual working in HR may support hiring efforts, policy administration, benefits management, and employee relations throughout the organization.1 Careers in human resources may range from administrative support roles to positions focused on data analysis and workforce planning.1
Human resources offers a structured, business oriented career path, where success depends on organizational awareness, management of personnel, and operational efficiency.
What Does a Career Path in Human Services Look Like?
Human services broadly covers roles aimed at supporting individuals, families, or communities through social assistance, counseling, rehabilitation, education, or health related services.2 This field may include social workers, counselors, community health workers, school or career counselors, and other support oriented professions.2
Human services tends to attract individuals motivated by helping others, social impact, and community support, and may require more flexible educational paths depending on the specific role (e.g., bachelor’s or master’s degrees, certifications, specialized training).
Key Distinctions: HR vs. Human Services
| Dimension | Human Resources | Human Services |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Support and manage workforce for an organization (hiring, benefits, compliance, workforce planning) | Provide assistance, care, counseling, or social services to individuals or communities in need |
| Typical Work Setting | Corporate/business offices, enterprises, agencies, consultancies | Government/private nonprofits, community organizations, social service agencies, schools, healthcare settings |
| Nature of Work | Organizational management, personnel administration, employee relations, business operations | Client or community oriented services: counseling, rehabilitation, social support, outreach |
Which Path Might Be Right for You?
If you enjoy structure, organizational dynamics, business processes, and playing a role in workforce planning, recruitment, or benefits administration — and you prefer working within organizations — a degree leading to HR roles may be well suited for you.
If you are drawn to helping individuals or communities, supporting social welfare, working in counseling, social services, or community outreach, and are comfortable with varied tasks, environments, and sometimes emotional or social challenges — human services might be a better fit.
Your choice may depend on your personal strengths, values, and the type of impact you want to have, whether in a corporate environment or in direct social support settings.
Human resources and human services represent two distinct but important career paths. The first focuses on managing people and facilitating business operations, while the second emphasizes support, care, and community impact.
When choosing between the two you should consider both your professional goals and your personal motivations. A clear understanding of both can help you make a well informed decision about your education and career path.
Ready to learn more? Explore online human resources management degrees at AIU.
1 Coursera. What is human resources (HR)? Areas, responsibilities, and roles https://www.coursera.org/articles/what-is-hr (visited 12/19/2025).
2 National Organization for Human Services. What is human services? http://www.nationalhumanservices.org/what-is-human-services (visited 12/2/2025).
AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2180865 12/2025