Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:
National Business Survey
Location Comparison: Rural, Outside Major Cities, Major Cities
December 2014
Research Details
Survey conducted by: Environics Research Group Survey methodology: • Telephone survey conducted among 500 senior officials from Canadian business • Survey took place from October 25 to November 11, 2013 • Sampling method designed to complete interviews within businesses randomly selected across
Canada • Results in this document may not add up to 100% (due to rounding or multiple responses as
well as the omission of “don’t know” answers)
2
Respondents
97
274
129
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
3: Overview
Including yourself, how many employees does your company currently have?
63%
20%
3%
3%
9%
43%
24%
6%
7%
19%
42%
18%
2%
11%
27%
<10
10-‐49
50-‐99
100-‐499
500+
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
4: Overview
Looking ahead to the coming year, what would you say is the greatest challenge facing Canadian businesses in general?
27%
21%
7%
10%
11%
9%
6%
5%
7%
6%
2%
4%
4%
2%
31%
22%
7%
8%
6%
5%
4%
8%
4%
4%
4%
4%
4%
4%
33%
25%
8%
3%
5%
7%
12%
4%
5%
5%
5%
3%
2%
2%
Shortage of skilled workers
General state of the economy
Foreign compe66on
Increasing overhead/opera6on costs
Shortage of quality workers (other)
Regula6on/red tape
Financial growth/profitability
Taxes
Re6rement of senior employees
Lack of funding/financing
Staff reten6on (general)
High Canadian dollar
Marke6ng/aZrac6ng new customers
Onboarding young workers
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
5: Overview
To what extent would you say that each of the following presents a challenge to your business right now?
6: Overview
8%
5%
8%
14%
12%
18%
46%
34%
36%
29%
27%
22%
43%
35%
31%
20%
16%
18%
41%
21%
16%
23%
25%
27%
48%
44%
47%
27%
34%
26%
39%
36%
36%
37%
44%
37%
31%
34%
28%
23%
31%
25%
20%
28%
22%
27%
27%
21%
8%
17%
22%
19%
19%
21%
14%
12%
22%
23%
23%
29%
19%
24%
29%
45%
39%
39%
9%
16%
13%
18%
14%
16%
11%
16%
17%
5%
8%
9%
23%
24%
23%
16%
24%
27%
Rural
Outside Major Ci1es
Major Ci1es
Rural
Outside Major Ci1es
Major Ci1es
Rural
Outside Major Ci1es
Major Ci1es
Rural
Outside Major Ci1es
Major Ci1es
Rural
Outside Major Ci1es
Major Ci1es
Rural
Outside Major Ci1es
Major Ci1es
Rural
Outside Major Ci1es
Major Ci1es
Very challenging Somewhat challenging Not very challenging Not at all challenging
Loss of senior employees to re6rement
Keeping up with technology
Shortage of skilled workers
Regula6on and red tape
General state of the economy
Loss of talented employees to
other organiza6ons
Finding young workers
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Recruitment: 6 Questions
7
In general, how easy or difficult is it to find people with the right skill set to fill positions in your company? Is it...?
8: Recruitment
[VALUE]
4%
9%
14%
25%
17%
41%
45%
47%
37%
23%
21%
1%
2%
[VALUE]
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
Very easy Somewhat easy Somewhat difficult Very difficult Depends on the posi6on
What are the main reasons it is difficult to find the right candidates?
58%
12%
28%
8%
14%
8%
5%
1%
3%
1%
65%
15%
14%
13%
10%
4%
3%
3%
2%
3%
68%
17%
3%
11%
12%
8%
3%
2%
2%
2%
Hard to find qualified candidates/with right skill set
Hard to find reliable candidates/with right work ethic
Company's physical loca6on is a barrier
Very compe66ve job market in this industry
We can only offer low/uncompe66ve wages (including seasonal)
Takes too much 6me/effort to find right candidate
Hard to break through noise/get job/company no6ced
Tradi6onal recruitment approaches no longer as effec6ve
Don't provide career advancement opportuni6es
Regula6ons/ red tape (e.g. government, unions)
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
9: Recruitment
Has your business done any of the following in the past five years in order to find skilled employees?
44%
45%
61%
9%
14%
38%
54%
61%
51%
51%
65%
19%
29%
43%
67%
71%
52%
55%
68%
13%
41%
40%
65%
74%
Recruited through social media
Marketed the advantages of working at your organisa6on
Offered training and advancement for lower-‐level employees
Used automated resume sojware
Outsourced recruitment to search or personnel firms
Used community employment agencies
Iden6fied internal candidates
Employee referral
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
10: Recruitment
When searching for skilled employees, would you say that resumes matter more than in the past, less than in the past
or about the same as always?
11: Recruitment
14%
10%
8%
14%
12%
15%
71%
77%
76%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
More Less About the same
How important to you is a potential employees online profile or footprint? Is it...?
12: Recruitment
11%
11%
10%
36%
43%
39%
24%
26%
35%
25%
18%
14%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
Very important Somewhat important Not very important Not at all important
And how much effort would you say your company puts into customizing the recruitment approach in order to reach and
attract members of underrepresented groups?
13: Recruitment
16%
10%
16%
25%
35%
38%
54%
53%
40%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
A lot of effort Some effort Not much effort
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Skills Gap: 3 Questions
14
There is a gap between the skill level and experience that prospective employees have, and what organizations in my
industry are looking for…
15: Skills Gap
28%
19%
26%
45%
54%
43%
18%
22%
23%
4%
2%
5%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
Strongly agree Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
34%
36%
37%
14%
15%
17%
52%
47%
44%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
Increased Decreased Stayed the same
“Strongly Agree/Somewhat Agree”: In the past five years, would you say that the skills gap in your
industry has increased, decreased or stayed the same?
“Strongly agree/Somewhat agree”: Which of the following statements is closer to your own opinion: The best way to close the
skills gap is for…
16: Skills Gap
46%
37%
15%
44% 45%
10%
38%
43%
18%
…employers to offer more training to new employees
…prospec6ve employees to beZer prepare themselves for
the labour market
both/combina6on of the two
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Soft Skills: 4 Questions
17
What soft skills are most important to you in an employee?
38%
26%
25%
27%
14%
12%
11%
7%
10%
8%
6%
3%
4%
3%
5%
3%
2%
8%
38%
31%
20%
22%
18%
[VALUE]
12%
10%
8%
8%
5%
7%
6%
6%
4%
5%
4%
4%
29%
26%
34%
21%
22%
13%
9%
11%
10%
7%
10%
8%
6%
5%
6%
5%
8%
2%
Posi6ve aqtude
Communica6on skills
Teamwork skills
Strong work ethic
Interpersonal/customer service skills
Flexibility/adaptability
Honesty/integrity
Time management abili6es
Reliability/dependability
Problem-‐solving skills
Accountability
Dedica6on/passion
Self-‐confidence
Willingness/ability to learn
Goal-‐oriented
Work well under pressure
Competence/diligence
Presenta6on
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
18: Soft Skills
How easy or difficult is it to find people with these soft skills? Is it...?
19: Soft Skills
[VALUE]
4%
4%
22%
29%
29%
52%
49%
50%
20%
16%
16%
1%
1%
2%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
Very easy Somewhat easy Somewhat difficult Very difficult Depends on posi6on
If you are having difficulty finding technically skilled workers, is your organization more likely to...
20: Skills Gap
72%
16%
6%
62%
28%
8%
56%
29%
12%
Hire someone with soj skills who is a good fit and provide
training
Keep searching un6l you find someone with the right
technical skills
Depends
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
Are senior level positions in your organization more likely to be filled by…?
21: Skills Gap
60%
19%
9%
62%
16% 16%
50%
28%
17%
Current employees who have advanced within the
organiza6on
New employees brought in from other organiza6ons
Depends
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Training: 8 Questions
22
Does your organization provide new employees with any of the following types of training?
74%
59%
44%
84%
4%
81%
66%
44%
91%
2%
83%
67%
47%
87%
2%
Orienta6on
Mentorship
Appren6ceship
Job-‐specific training
Do not offer training
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
23: Training
Would you say that your organization is very willing, somewhat willing, not very willing or not at all willing to hire and train new
employees who may lack in some technical skills?
24: Training
47%
39%
33%
32%
47%
43%
10%
9%
16%
5%
4%
5%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
Very willing Somewhat willing Not very willing Not at all willing
Would you say that losing skilled employees in which you have invested training to other organizations is...?
25: Training
29%
22%
29%
37%
42%
37%
23%
20%
23%
10%
16%
10%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
A great concern Somewhat of a concern Not really a concern Not at all a concern
Does your organization use any of the following to fill your labour needs?
42%
38%
31%
36%
25%
43%
39%
35%
35%
33%
44%
40%
37%
30%
40%
Co-‐opera6ve educa6on programs
Volunteer opportuni6es
Appren6ceships
Wage subsidy programs
Internships
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
26: Training
Does your organization provide ongoing training for long-standing employees?
27: Training
72%
22%
84%
15%
87%
11%
Yes No
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
36%
27%
36%
40%
20%
39%
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
Technical
Soj Skills
Both
If “yes”, is the training you provide to staff technical in nature, or focused on soj skills,
such as team building or diversity awareness?
Does your organization provide employees with professional development opportunities, such as conferences or workshops?
28: Training
67%
27%
73%
27%
78%
19%
Yes No
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
Does your organization offer formal coaching or mentoring programs for employees?
29: Training
43%
51%
43%
55%
45%
53%
Yes No
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Youth Employment: 4 Questions
30
Which of the following do you think is the greatest reason unemployment is particularly high
for young workers under the age of 25?
14%
14%
2%
28%
7%
7%
8%
10%
18%
13%
4%
17%
12%
9%
10%
9%
19%
10%
5%
18%
13%
9%
13%
7%
A lack of real world experience
Older workers staying at their jobs longer
A lack of networking and job search skills
They are too demanding in the job they want
Fewer entry-‐level jobs available
Lack of soj skills
Lack of technical skills
Lack of communica6on skills necessary to convey abili6es in an applica6on or interview
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
31: Youth Employment
When recruiting job candidates, how much effort does your company put into customizing the recruitment approach in order
to reach young workers? Would you say...?
32: Youth Employment
22%
29%
42%
16%
43%
39%
21%
42%
35%
A lot of effort Some effort Not much effort
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
Which of the following is your organization doing to attract younger workers?
39%
39%
33%
26%
18%
25%
16%
26%
58%
50%
40%
35%
34%
28%
24%
20%
59%
56%
37%
39%
33%
36%
28%
16%
Online job sites/boards
Recrui6ng through social media
Government sites
Recrui6ng on campuses
Taking part in job fairs
Offering paid internships
Offering unpaid internships
Recrui6ng through youth-‐serving agencies
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
33: Youth Employment
Would you say that hiring and training recent grads and young adults is part of your organization's
Corporate Social Responsibility?
34: Youth Employment
40%
55% 51%
45%
50% 47%
Yes No
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Career Management: 5 Questions
35
Would you say that you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: Employers have a responsibility
to provide career management programs for their employees.
36: Career Management
21%
27%
32%
42%
43%
47%
23%
23%
15%
12%
7%
6%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree
Does your organization have career management programs for employees?
37: Career Management
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
Yes No
Rural Outside Major Ci6es Major Ci6es
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
[VALUE]
24%
18%
18%
16%
15%
10%
29%
33%
18%
18%
12%
12%
10%
Individually tailored training/coaching
Career planning/training/ educa6on
Succession/ advancement programs
Skills development programs
Mentorship/ appren6ceship programs
Educa6on reimbursement/training
encouragement
Leadership programs
If “yes”, what are they?
Of the following, which presents the greatest challenge to offering career management programs? Is it...?
33%
40%
16%
4%
2%
32%
46%
14%
4%
2%
33%
44%
11%
4%
2%
Cost
Time
Lack of exper6se
None of the above
Not our responsibility
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
38: Career Management
How important would you say it is to your organization to provide employees the opportunities to reach their own career goals?
Is it...?
39: Career Management
39%
46%
45%
45%
41%
43%
6%
7%
5%
4%
5%
7%
Rural
Outside Major Ci6es
Major Ci6es
Very important Somewhat important Not very important Not at all important
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Please visit the CERIC website at ceric.ca to download the National Business Survey Executive Summary
(available in English and French) and related information as it becomes available.
40