By contrast, at the other end of the spectrum public sector organisations are more likely to have seen a reduction in the size of their HR departments as government largesse has diminished.

The IRS HR roles and responsibilities survey 2008 (subscription required), from which these findings come, is the sixth in a series that sets benchmarks for the HR function, with data on ratios of HR staff to employees and HR qualifications.

Part two of the survey report, to be published on XpertHR in two weeks' time, will look at HR department budgets and strategic plans.

Today's first report from the research shows that, overall, four out of ten organisations have expanded their HR departments, four out of ten have seen little change, and two out of ten have cut them.

Whether this can continue in light of our current economic woes remains to be seen. The finance sector in particular is likely to look hard at its HR costs if there are significant job losses over the coming months.

The CIPD meanwhile reckons 2008 will be the "worst year for jobs in a decade" – cheering news indeed as you return refreshed for a new year challenge.

John Philpot, the CIPD's chief economist and gloom-monger in chief, warns:

“Despite a considerable amount of organisational restructuring in the past decade large scale redundancies have been running at historically low levels. This is likely to change in 2008 with more HR professionals having to deal with the particularly tricky task of handling compulsory redundancies.

Or, to put it another way, will the last person leaving the HR department please switch off the lights.