mannauður

Mannauður is an Icelandic term used to describe the people who make up a workforce, commonly translated as human resources or human capital. It encompasses the skills, knowledge, experience, health, motivation, creativity, and social competencies of individuals. In economics and management, mannauður is treated as an asset that can be developed and leveraged to achieve organizational and societal goals, rather than merely as labor input.

The word is formed from mann (man/person) and auður (wealth), reflecting the view that people constitute valuable wealth. In policy and business discourse, the concept emphasizes investing in education, training, health, and talent development as a way to improve productivity and innovation. It is used across private companies and public institutions to frame strategies for workforce development and utilization.

In practice, mannauður management includes activities such as recruitment and onboarding, training and professional development, performance management, leadership and succession planning, employee engagement, and retention efforts. In the public sector, it supports workforce planning, educational policy, and programs aimed at improving employability and labor-market outcomes. Metrics often used to assess mannauður include skill levels, qualification matches, training hours, labor-force participation, turnover, and productivity, though measuring intangible aspects like motivation and organizational culture can be challenging.

Challenges facing mannauður include demographic changes, aging workforces, automation and digitalization, and ensuring equitable access to education and development opportunities. Respect for privacy and ethical considerations is also important in collecting and using data related to employees and citizens. See also: human capital, workforce development, talent management.