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| 4/30/2012 10:53:52 AM |
Vast majority of Canadian companies optimistic about economic outlook for 2012
A recent survey conducted by Hays Canada, a national recruitment consultancy, indicates that most Canadian companies are optimistic about the economy in 2012. According to data collected from 1,300 organizations in November and December 2011, 81 per cent believe the economy will continue to strengthen/remain static, with 39 per cent of companies planning on increasing staff levels this year.
Filling these new roles may be challenging with 77 per cent of companies, including those in the IT industry, citing “availability of suitable/skilled candidates” as the biggest challenge in attracting top talent.
The survey also reveals that corporate Canada weathered 2011 far better than it had originally predicted. Results of the same survey conducted in 2010 indicated 40 per cent of companies expected business activity to decline in 2011 – but the new data reveals that only 13 per cent of businesses actually experienced this decline. In fact, 57 per cent of companies saw their business activity increase in 2011. This return of confidence may explain why 45 per cent of employers plan on increasing salaries by more than three per cent in 2012.
Canada’s IT industry should especially take note of the following trends:
General employment:
- Nearly half (43 per cent) of surveyed organizations will be increasing their IT headcount in 2012
- 80 per cent of employers are hoping to increase their full-time IT positions in 2012
- 50 per cent of companies will increase salaries by 3 per cent or more
- Only 28 per cent of IT employees are female
Emerging IT industry trends:
- Due to a critical shortage of ICT skilled workers (over the next 5 years, Canada must fill 106,000 jobs with 50,000 of those vacancies expected to come from Ontario). Companies will look to new Canadians to fulfill roles - 32 per cent of employers are already considering the option of international sponsorship to supplement their staffing needs.
- Increase in “near-shoring” – Canadian companies moving data centre and IT departments to the U.S. and capitalizing on available talent pool, strong Canadian dollar and historically low U.S. real estate rates.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hays plc, which has been at the forefront of the global recruitment industry for over thirty-five years. With annual revenues of over £2.1 billion, Hays Specialist Recruitment is the largest specialist recruitment consultancy in the world.
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