HR departments lack the tools they need to respond to an economic recovery, new research reveals.

More than half of HR directors are unable to provide strategic data to their business.

According to Logica, 70% of HR directors think that lack of clear data will lead to skills gaps in their business and more than a third (35%) do not think their HR systems are good enough to support a business change in response to a potential economic upturn.

The survey also shows 27% do not have a plan for an economic recovery although 70% of businesses have suffered from skills shortages due to lack of foresight in the past.

On a more positive note, 56% of respondents do think their HR department is aligned to core business objectives and a growing number of HR directors are looking to add more strategic value to their organisation to drive change in the future.

Patricia Taylor, global HR services and UK business process outsourcing director at Logica, said: "Most business leaders see talent as a top priority and have rightly moved far beyond thinking that good business performance directly corresponds with good talent management. Logica is ready to assist our customers by providing strategic information back to the organisation through the proper use of data to ensure the right decisions are taken."