January 4, 2011

Steady growth predicted for 2011 employment

Continued emphasis on technology fields

While countries around the world struggle to maintain current employment levels, Canadian employers continue to experience steady job growth across multiple industries and the trend is expected to carry-over into the New Year, according to CareerBuilder.ca's 2011 Job Forecast. More employers plan to add full-time, permanent headcount compared to 2010 with a continued emphasis on hiring in technology and revenue-producing fields. CareerBuilder.ca surveyed more than 220 hiring managers and human resource professionals and more than 500 workers across industries and company sizes. The survey was conducted between   November 15  and   December 2, 2010.

"Seventy per cent of Canadian employers say they are in a better financial position today than they were one year ago," said   Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder   North America. "Our survey results and an increase in job posting activity on CareerBuilder.ca point to continued, steady job growth in 2011."

Customer service was the top functional area employers said they will be recruiting for in 2011 as they focus on expanding their customer base and share of customer wallet. Thirty-four per cent plan to add customer service positions in the New Year. The top 10 functional areas for recruitment include:

• Customer service - 34 per cent
• Information Technology - 33 per cent
• Technology - 30 per cent
• Administrative - 29 per cent
• Marketing - 28 per cent
• Sales - 24 per cent
• Research/Development - 21 per cent
• Engineering - 21 per cent
• Business/Development - 20 per cent
• HR - 10 per cent    

Full-time

Three-in-ten (32 per cent) employers plan to hire full-time, permanent employees in 2011, up from 29 per cent in 2010 and 18 per cent in 2009. Eleven per cent plan to decrease headcount, on par with 9 per cent in 2010 and lower than 16 per cent in 2009. Nearly half (49 per cent) per cent anticipate no change in their staff levels while 9 per cent are unsure.

Twenty per cent of employers expect to hire part-time employees in the next 12 months, up from 18 per cent in 2010 and 13 per cent in 2009. Seven per cent plan to decrease part-time help, an improvement from 9 per cent in 2010 and 16 per cent in 2009. Fifty-eight per cent anticipate no change in their staff levels while 16 per cent are unsure.

Companies will be relying on interim solutions to help shoulder growing workloads. Half of hiring managers (51 per cent) reported they will hire contract or temporary workers to supplement leaner staffs in 2011. Of those hiring contract or temporary workers, 12 per cent expect to add more than last year. Forty-two per cent of employers expect to extend job offers for permanent placement in their companies to contract or temporary staff.

Fifty-seven per cent of employers are concerned that their best talent will leave their organizations once the economy improves. Compensation will be one of the incentives used to retain talent, as nearly eight-in-ten employers (77 per cent) said they will increase compensation for their existing staff in 2011. While most employers estimate the average raise will be 3 per cent or less, one-in-ten (9 per cent) expect the average increase will be five per cent or more.

Forty-six per cent will provide higher initial job offers to job candidates. While most increases will likely fall within the same 1 per cent to 3 per cent range, 9 per cent of employers expect to up initial job offers by 5 per cent or more.