A Journey of 19 years on Sustainable Human Resource Management: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Human resource management (HRM) is becoming a major force behind organizational sustainability as a result of the increased focus on sustainability and corporate responsibility. With information obtained solely from the Scopus database, this study offers a thorough bibliometric analysis of Sustainable Human Resource Management (SHRM) literature produced between 2006 and 2024. Examining the publication trends, top contributors, theme development, and international collaboration networks that characterize the intellectual framework of SHRM research is the goal. VOSviewer was used for performance analysis and science mapping on 190 pertinent documents, including journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers. The data shows that publications have been steadily increasing since 2010, with a notable spike around 2019, which reflects the growing worldwide interest in sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. While newer studies have branched out toward multifaceted subjects like green HRM, ESG-oriented practices, digital transformation, and resilience, the early stages of SHRM research focused on ethical employment and employee well-being.

Keyword co-occurrence analysis identifies “sustainability,” “green HRM,” “corporate social responsibility (CSR),” and “employee well-being” as dominant terms, signifying their central role in the discipline. Emerging keywords like “innovation,” “digital HRM,” and “sustainable leadership” indicate a shift toward integrating technology and strategy with sustainability. Co-authorship and collaboration network analyses reveal an increasing trend of international and interdisciplinary research, with strong partnerships observed between countries such as the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and Germany.

This study contributes by mapping the evolution, structure, and future trajectory of SHRM research, providing a systematic understanding of how HRM supports sustainable organizational performance. The findings underscore that SHRM has evolved from a conceptual notion into a strategic and data-driven field promoting long-term human, social, and environmental sustainability.