The first half of 2018 may bring challenges for employers. Competition for the best candidates persists, and companies must offer what’s most important to them: competitive pay, work-life balance and a satisfying job experience. The most successful businesses understand the hiring environment, efficiently recruit professionals who are

a good fit for their firm and provide meaningful work to retain staff for the long term.

This report is a collection of the latest research, including data from Statistics Canada, to help shed light on the hiring environment and talent shortage.

NEW YEAR BRINGS CONTINUED RECRUITING CHALLENGESSPOTLIGHT:

SPECIAL REPORT: THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED TALENTVolume 15 – Q1/Q2 2018

The unemployment rate was 5.7% at the end of 2017, the lowest it’s been since at least January 1976.4

COmpANIES ARE HIRING TO FILL OpEN JOBS, BUT RETENTION ISSUES pERSIST

46% of North American employees would consider a better opportunity even if they weren’t actively looking, and the biggest work-related reason cited is unhappiness with their jobs (40%).6

Firms report that labour shortages are becoming more pronounced, pushing the indicator of intensity to its highest level since the latest recession.5

Percentages of executives who

report challenges finding skilled professionals:

CIOs1

34%

CFOs2

51%

Lawyers3

56%

WORKER COMMUTES PAGE 2

49% of workers cited their coworkers as a reason to stay in their jobs, followed by salary (48%), working conditions (46%) and job security (46%).7

Volume 15 – Q1/Q2 2018 Robert Half 1

Commute times rank as a top concern among candidates when considering a job offer. Robert Half surveyed Canadian workers to determine how long they spend commuting to and from the office and how stressful commutes are. To aid employers in attracting potential job candidates and retaining workers who have long commutes, consider offering staggered work schedules, telecommuting options and company-sponsored commuter benefits.

SpOTLIGHT: WORkERS WEIGH IN ON LONG AND STRESSFUL COmmUTES

Volume 15 – Q1/Q2 2018 Robert Half 2

SPECIAL REPORT: THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED TALENT

1Canadian CIOs Reveal Hiring Plans for First Half of 2018, Robert Half Technology, Dec. 13, 2017.2Talent Shortages Forcing Employers to Change Tactics, Robert Half, Jan. 3, 2018. 3Survey: Litigation to Offer Greatest Legal Job Opportunities in Next Six Months, Robert Half Legal, Dec. 14, 2017.4Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada, January 2018. 5Business Outlook Survey, Bank of Canada, Oct. 16, 2017.6Should I stay or should I go? Global insights into employees’ decisions to leave their jobs, IBM Smarter Workforce Institute, July 2017.72017 Pulse of Talent: Key Factors for Retaining Top Performers, Ceridian, 2017. 8The Art of Following Up, Accountemps, Sept. 19, 2017.9Thank-You Notes Can Tip Scale in Job Candidates’ Favour, Yet Few Write Them, Accountemps, Nov. 20, 2017.10Resume Fact or Fiction, OfficeTeam, Aug. 17, 2017.11Are Managers Their Own Biggest Barriers to Innovation?, Robert Half, Oct. 17, 2017.

19% of hiring managers said candidates should check back with prospective employers within one week of submitting a resume, and 43% said between one and two weeks; 46% of managers prefer follow-up contact via email.8

42% of human resources managers said they take thank-you notes into account when deciding whom to hire, but they report receiving them from only 28% of applicants.9

40% of senior managers suspect candidates often stretch the truth on resumes, and 35% said their company has removed an applicant from consideration for a position after discovering that person lied.10

81% of workers said a company’s reputation for being innovative is an important consideration when evaluating potential employers.11

JOB SEARCH CONSIDERATIONS FOR CANDIDATES

Workers spend an average

of 53 minutes commuting each day.

Source: Canada’s Spooky Worker Commutes, Robert Half, Oct. 23, 2017.

28% of workers say commutes are too long.

Canadians ranked commuter stress levels as an average of four

out of 10, with 10 being the most stressed.

Volume 15 – Q1/Q2 2018 Robert Half 3

Source: Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada, January 2018.

SPECIAL REPORT: THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED TALENT

We specialize in identifying hard-to-find candidates and matching them with appropriate jobs. Our staffing professionals are well-connected within the industries we serve and can draw from a large pool of highly skilled and experienced candidates. Our placements are made personally by our recruiters and supported by the latest technology. We also conduct frequent research so we can provide our clients with the most up-to-date information on salary and employment trends. With more than 300 specialized staffing locations worldwide and 70 years of experience, Robert Half is well-positioned to help you with all your staffing needs.

Call us today at 1.844.716.0563.

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© 2018 Robert Half Canada Inc.

Business, Finance and Administrative Occupations (2.6%)Financial auditors/accountantsFinancial and investment analystsExecutive assistantsReceptionistsData entry clerkspayroll clerksCustomer service representativesAdministrative clerksLegal secretaries

Management Occupations (1.5%)Financial managersBusiness services managersSales/marketing/advertising managers

Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Occupations (2.7%)Information systems analystsDatabase analystsComputer programmersWeb designers/developersComputer network techniciansUser support technicians

Social Science and Government Occupations (1.2%)Law clerks and related occupationsLawyers and notaries

Q4 2017 UNEmpLOYmENT RATES BY OCCUpATION FOR SELECT pOSITIONS