Most Canadian companies planning to increase hiring

11 December 2023 Consulting.ca

Fifty-four percent of Canadian companies plan to add new permanent roles in the first half of 2024, according to a recent survey from Robert Half. The HR consulting and staffing firm polled over 1,000 hiring managers in professional fields in November 2023..

The resilient job market will see a further 68% of hiring managers expecting to hire more contract workers and 40% planning to fill vacated positions.

Only 6% of respondents said they will not be adding or filling vacated roles in H1 2024, and only 1% expect to eliminate roles.

Among managers planning to expand hiring, 61% tagged “company growth” as the top factor driving hiring decisions, followed by lack of skills among current employees (50%), capitalizing on top laid off talent (48%), and employee turnover (48%).

Most Canadian companies planning to increase hiring

Hiring challenges continue, according to the survey, with 89% of organizations reporting difficulty finding skilled professionals and 64% saying it takes longer to hire for open roles than a year ago.

Over half (53%) of hiring managers said they anticipate facing a lack of applicants with required skills and nearly half (48%) anticipate difficulties meeting candidates’ salary expectations.

“The first quarter of the year often brings with it newly approved projects and budgets,” said David King, senior managing director, Robert Half, Canada and South America. "Combined with company growth plans and ongoing skills gaps in the labour market, employers need to be strategic to attract and retain top talent, in order to meet staffing requirements and fulfill business needs."

The top concern for hiring managers in H1 2024 was “retaining top talent,” at 90% of respondents.

“Regular compensation and benefit audits are key to ensuring you remain competitive, and offering perks such as flexibility can help lessen turnover," King added.