A new report from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half revealed over a third (38%) of workers have started or are planning to start looking for a new job in the first half of the year. That figure is down from half in July 2024.
"While many professionals right now are still interested in pursuing new roles, the decrease in active job seeking may lead to increasing hiring challenges for the nearly half of businesses planning to expand their workforce in 2025," Koula Vasilopoulos, Robert Half Canada’s senior managing director, said in a statement.
"Employers will need to focus on strategies that help them find the right talent, promote a smooth hiring process and attract skilled workers to new roles."
An additional 39% say they are open to a new role if the right opportunity arises.
New opportunities
Job seekers in Canada have a variety of reasons they cite for why they want a new position. The top reasons mentioned in the study are to gain:
- A higher salary (41%)
- Better perks and benefits (31%)
- More remote flexibility than what their company offers (27%)
- Greater professional development opportunities (20%)
For those planning to stay put in their current positions, professionals pointed to a competitive salary with regular merit increases (74%), fair and reasonable workloads and expectations (70%), opportunities for career advancement and supportive managers (tied at 69%), positive work and team cultures (68%) and flexibility in when and where they work (66%) as the driving factors.
Pitfalls to avoid while hiring
Most workers (94%) are confident in their skills and abilities, and 73% of those reported learning new skills in the past 12 months. In addition, 72% of workers said that they are confident they could find a new job if they needed to or were interested.
With that in mind, professionals included some the biggest obstacles they face when job hunting, including:
- Making their resumes stand out (70%),
- Identifying jobs that align with their skill sets, experiences and career goals (68%)
- Finding the time to search and apply for jobs and knowing when to follow up with the hiring manager/recruiter (tied at 55%)
The study also highlighted potential red flags that can deter workers from applying to open positions, including:
- No salary range in the job description (42%)
- Vague or unreasonable job responsibilities, reporting lines and career path (35%)
- Poor communication with the hiring manager or recruiter (33%)
Survey methodology
The online survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm in December 2024. It includes responses from 1,500 professionals aged 18 and over across Canada.
This article Share of Canadians looking to job switch is down from 2024
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
