Nearly half of Canadian companies plan to hire new staff this year

Approximately 43% of Canadian companies expect to add new permanent positions in the second half of 2021, according to a recent survey from recruitment firm Robert Half. The survey in June polled 800 senior managers at Canadian companies with 20 or more employees.

Alongside the 43% adding new roles, a further 54% expect to fill vacated positions or re-hire temporarily laid off employees.

Senior managers believe their biggest recruiting challenges will be finding candidates with the right skills, finding people that complement their culture, and hiring quickly enough to land the best talent.

"As the Canadian economy emerges from months of pandemic restrictions, hiring is top of mind for many employers, but the ability to find skilled candidates remains a challenge," said David King, Canadian senior district president of Robert Half. "As job seekers grow more confident in the labour market and their career prospects, employers need to not only meet, but exceed, expectations in order to attract top talent." 

Employers are, as such, being forced to sweeten the pot to attract potential hires. Incentives include more paid time off (40%), better job titles (37%), and signing bonuses (35%).

In terms of lowering their standards for prospective employees, only 1 in 10 said they could overlook certifications and soft skills. More were willing to bend on “years of experience” and “advanced degrees” (21%).

Employers also revealed they were more flexible on a candidate’s location – likely due to the popularization of remote work since the pandemic. Fifty-nine percent said they are widening their search beyond their geography to find candidates.

"Skilled professionals are in the driver's seat and employers should continue to modernize and diversify the methods they use to secure the best candidates,” King added.