Canada – Hiring Trends for 2010

Over the past week or so, I have been immersed in job search through professional discussions related to corporate human resources’ interview processes, job search challenges, and the ’new market’ hiring practices and procedures in particular.

As I am receiving a positive response to my offer to help people in their job search endeavours with cover letter and resume preparation, career profile blog site creation, etc., job search and employment forecasts have been top of mind, and my major focus. This is of course in addition to my own efforts to secure contracts locally and virtually for my complete suite of services.

During this time I also performed a quick targeted Internet sweep on data and forecasts related to our Canadian hiring trends as we move deeper into 2010. In my sweep, I came across The Employment Office  survey, which I have provided for your information and comment below.

Regular visitors to my site will likely note that the results of this survey echo a number of articles I have previously posted, such as expanded flexibility in work schedules, termination recall, and the increased popularity in the use of Contractors.

Companies are optimistic about hiring in 2010 and are taking measures to ensure future growth.

Seven Major Hiring Trends for 2010

#1 Replacing Low-Performing Workers: Some companies are using this economic recovery period to strengthen their workforce by recruiting top talent to replace low performing workers. Forty-two per cent of employers said they planned to hire A-players to replace low performers in 2010.

#2 Flexible Work Arrangements: Companies plan to continue providing employees with greater flexibility in hopes of maintaining a better work-life balance. Forty-three per cent of employers say they plan to provide more flexible work arrangements in 2010, which include: 

• Alternate schedules – come in early, leave early OR come in later, leave later – 72%
• Telecommuting options – 55%
• Compressed workweeks – work the same hours, but in fewer days – 41%
• Summer hours – 30%
• Job sharing – 25%
• Sabbaticals – 16% 

#3 Rehiring Laid-Off Workers: As the job market continues to stabilize and show signs of growth, some companies are reversing strategies taken to manage through challenging economic times. Of employers who had layoffs in the last 12 months, nearly three-in-ten (29 per cent) reported their company is planning to bring back some employees they let go earlier in the year.

Looking ahead, 10 per cent reported they plan to bring back workers in the first quarter, while 9 per cent plan on doing so in the second quarter. An additional 5 per cent said they would rehire employees in the second half of 2010.

Companies also indicated that their layoff decisions in the last year may have been made too quickly. One-quarter (25 per cent) of employers said they thought they cut workers too soon and that it ultimately had a negative impact on their business.

#4 Green Jobs: Employers plan to continue to be environmentally aware in the New Year. One-in-five (20 per cent) employers say they plan to add “green jobs” in 2010, compared to 13 per cent who said they planned to add them in 2009. “Green jobs” are positions that implement environmentally conscious design, policy and technology to improve conservation and sustainability.

#5 Recruitment Tools: As employers increase headcounts in 2010, they will turn to a mix of hiring vehicles to find the right candidates. Employers’ report that they plan to increase their recruitment spending on the following: 

• Online recruitment sites – 29%
• Staffing firms and recruiters – 13%
• Career fairs – 19%
• Social and professional networking sites – 18%
• Business and trade magazine ads – 5% 

#6 Freelance or Contact Hiring: As many companies rebuild their workforces, they are turning to more freelance or contract workers to help move their businesses forward.

Forty-eight per cent of employers anticipate hiring freelancers or contractors in 2010. Thirteen per cent expect to employ more freelancers or contractors than last year, while 18 per cent expect to hire the same amount and 17 per cent plan to hire fewer.

#7 Less Business Travel: While employers are moving away from cost containment and more into growth, one area they still plan to save money on is business travel. More than half (52 per cent) of employers report that there will be less business travel at their organization in 2010 than in 2009.

Tags: 2010, Canada hiring trends, contractors, cuts in business travel, discussions, echo my previous articles, flex work schedules, freelance, green jobs, hiring, internet sweep, interview, job search challenges, low-performing workers, optimistic hiring, re-hires, recruitment tools, seven major trends, the employment office survey