career development in the canadian workplace, national business survey atlantic canada

Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey

Regional Comparison: Atlantic Canada

March 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 omission of “don’t know” answers)

2

Respondents

British Columbia Prairies Ontario Quebec Atlantic Canada

87

108105

95

105

3: Overview

Which industry is your organization in?

Service

Manufacturing

Hospitality

Health care

Education

Retail

Non-profit

Finance

Technology

Public administration

Natural resources

Agriculture

Construction

Entertainment/Recreation

Professional services

Automotive (including repair)

Energy

Transportation/Warehousing

Distribution

26%

8%

12%

9%

4%

6%

3%

5%

2%

0%

3%

4%

3%

4%

3%

2%

5%

2%

0%

24%

12%

8%

8%

7%

6%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%

3%

3%

3%

2%

2%

2%

1%

1%

National average Atlantic Canada

4: Overview

Including yourself, how many employees doesyour company currently have?

<10

10-49

50-99

100-499

500+

50%

36%

3%

4%

7%

46%

22%

4%

7%

19%

National averageAtlantic Canada

5: Overview

Looking ahead to the coming year, what would you say is the greatest challenge facing Canadian businesses in general?

Shortage of skilled workers

Foreign competition

Shortage of quality workers (other)

Financial growth/profitability

Retirement of senior employees

Staff retention (general)

Marketing/attracting new customers

Keeping up with technology

31%

15%

3%

13%

7%

6%

8%

10%

3%

5%

4%

3%

8%

2%

2%

7%

31%

22%

7%

7%

7%

6%

6%

6%

5%

4%

4%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%


6: Overview

To what extent would you say that each of the following presents a challenge to your business right now?

7: Overview

Atlantic Canada

National average

Atlantic Canada

National average

Atlantic Canada

National average

Atlantic Canada

National average

Atlantic Canada

National average

Atlantic Canada

National average

Atlantic Canada

National average

5%

6%

9%

14%

37%

37%

20%

26%

42%

36%

12%

17%

33%

24%

17%

25%

42%

45%

29%

31%

42%

37%

38%

41%

31%

32%

26%

28%

27%

25%

30%

25%

15%

16%

19%

19%

11%

15%

28%

25%

18%

24%

50%

40%

18%

14%

18%

15%

19%

16%

9%

8%

27%

24%

23%

23%

Very challenging Somewhat challenging Not very challenging Not at all challenging

Loss of senior employeesto retirement

Keeping up with technology

Shortage of skilled workers

Regulation and red tape

General state of the economy

Loss of talented employeesto other organization

Finding young workers

Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:National Business Survey

Recruitment: 7 Questions

8

In general, how easy or difficult is it to find people with the right skill set to fill positions in your company? Is it...?

9: Recruitment

Atlantic Canada

National average

6%

6%

19%

21%

44%

45%

30%

25%

1%

2%

Very easy Somewhat easy Somewhat difficult Very difficult Depends on the position

What are the main reasons it is difficult tofind the right candidates?

Hard to find qualified candidates/with right skill set

Hard to find reliable candidates/with right work ethic

Company's physical location is a barrier

Very competitive job market in this industry

We can only offer low/uncompetitive wages (including seasonal)

Takes too much time/effort to find right candidate

Hard to break through noise/get job/company noticed

Traditional recruitment approaches no longer as effective

Don't provide career advancement opportunities

Regulations/ red tape (e.g. government, unions)

69%

18%

18%

14%

8%

0%

0%

0%

3%

0%

64%

15%

14%

12%

11%

6%

3%

2%

2%

2%


10: Recruitment

Has your business done any of the following in the past five years in order to find skilled employees?

Recruited through social media

Marketed the advantages of working at your organisation

Offered training and advancement for lower-level employees

Used automated resume software

Outsourced recruitment to search or personnel firms

Used community employment agencies

Identified internal candidates

Employee referral

53%

40%

54%

12%

18%

43%

56%

65%

50%

51%

65%

15%

29%

41%

64%

70%


11: 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?

12: Recruitment

Atlantic Canada

National average

12%

10%

14%

13%

73%

76%

More Less About the same

How important to you is a potential employeesonline profile or footprint? Is it...?

13: Recruitment

Atlantic Canada

National average

16%

11%

41%

41%

24%

28%

15%

18%

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?

14: Recruitment

Atlantic Canada

National average

10%

13%

29%

34%

54%

50%

A lot of effort Some effort Not much effort


Skills Gap: 3 Questions

15

There is a gap between the skill level and experience that prospective employees have, and what organizations in my

industry are looking for…

16: Skills Gap

Atlantic Canada

National average

24%

23%

58%

50%

16%

21%

1%

3%

Strongly agree Somewhat agreeSomewhat disagree Strongly disagree

Atlantic Canada

National average

37%

36%

15%

15%

47%

48%

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?

Q16: “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…

17: Skills Gap

...Employers to offer more training to new employees

...Prospective employees to better prepare themselves

for the labour market

Both/combination of the two

45%43%

9%

43% 43%

13%

Atlantic Region National Average


Soft Skills: 4 Questions

18

What soft skills are most important to you in an employee?

Positive attitude

Communication skills

Teamwork skills

Strong work ethic

Interpersonal/customer service skills

Flexibility/adaptability

Honesty/integrity

Time management abilities

Reliability/dependability

Problem-solving skills

Accountability

Dedication/passion

Self-confidence

Willingness/ability to learn

Goal-oriented

Work well under pressure

Competence/diligence

Presentation

33%

30%

16%

25%

19%

7%

14%

10%

10%

4%

4%

9%

1%

4%

2%

0%

4%

2%

36%

29%

25%

23%

18%

11%

11%

10%

9%

8%

7%

6%

6%

5%

5%

5%

5%

4%


19: Soft Skills

How easy or difficult is it to find peoplewith these soft skills? Is it...?

20: Soft Skills

Atlantic Canada

National average

6%

3%

24%

27%

48%

50%

18%

17%

1%

1%

Very easy Somewhat easy Somewhat difficult Very difficult Depends on position

If you are having difficulty finding technically skilled workers,is your organization more likely to...

21: Skills Gap

Hire someone with soft skills who is a good fit and

provide training

Keep searching until you find someone with the right

technical skills

Depends

69%

27%

4%

62%

26%

9%


Are senior level positions in your organizationmore likely to be filled by…?

22: Skills Gap

Current employees who have advanced within the

organization

New employees brought in from other organizations

Depends

72%

16%

7%

58%

19%15%



Training: 8 Questions

23

Does your organization provide new employees with any of the following types of training?

Orientation

Mentorship

Apprenticeship

Job-specific training

Do not offer training

80%

60%

36%

90%

3%

80%

65%

45%

88%

3%


24: 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?

25: Training

Atlantic Canada

National average

49%

39%

41%

43%

6%

11%

3%

5%

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...?

26: Training

Atlantic Canada

National average

25%

25%

30%

39%

25%

21%

20%

14%

A great concern Somewhat of a concern Not really a concern Not at all a concern

Does your organization use any of the followingto fill your labour needs?

Co-operative education programs

Volunteer opportunities

Apprenticeships

Wage subsidy programs

Internships

38%

38%

22%

42%

23%

43%

39%

35%

34%

33%


27: Training

Does your organization provide ongoing trainingfor long-standing employees?

28: Training

Yes No

83%

16%

82%

17%

Atlantic CanadaNational Region

Technical

Soft Skills

Both

Depends

43%

21%

1%

26%

40%

19%

1%

39%

If “yes”, is the training you provide to staff technical in nature, or focused on soft skills,

such as team building or diversity awareness?

Does your organization provide employees with professional development opportunities, such as conferences or workshops?

29: Training

Yes No

70%

30%

73%

25%


Does your organization offer formal coaching ormentoring programs for employees?

30: Training

Yes No

41%

59%

44%

54%



Youth Employment: 4 Questions

31

Which of the following do you think is the greatestreason unemployment is particularly high

for young workers under the age of 25?

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 soft skills

Lack of technical skills

Lack of communication skills necessary to convey abilities in an application or interview

14%

17%

1%

25%

14%

9%

8%

7%

18%

12%

4%

19%

12%

9%

11%

9%

National average

Atlantic Canada

32: 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...?


A lot of effort Some effort Not much effort

9%

41%

50%

18%

40% 39%


Which of the following is your organization doingto attract younger workers?

Online job sites/boards

Recruiting through social media

Government sites

Recruiting on campuses

Taking part in job fairs

Offering paid internships

Offering unpaid internships

Recruiting through youth-serving agencies

45%

46%

38%

24%

23%

25%

20%

16%

55%

49%

38%

34%

31%

29%

24%

20%

National average

Atlantic Canada


Would you say that hiring and training recent grads andyoung adults is part of your organization's

Corporate Social Responsibility?


Yes No

50%

48%

49%

47%



Professional Development: 5 Questions

36

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.

37: Professional Development

Atlantic Canada

National average

26%

27%

38%

44%

28%

21%

9%

8%

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree

Does your organization have careermanagement programs for employees?


Yes No

20%

80%

29%

68%

Atlantic CanadaNational Region

Individually tailored training/coaching

Career planning/training/ education

Succession/ advancement programs

Skills development programs

Mentorship/ appren-ticeship programs

Education reimbursement/train-ing encouragement

Leadership programs

38%

19%

24%

14%

19%

5%

5%

29%

25%

19%

18%

16%

14%

9%

If “yes”, what are they?

Of the following, which presents the greatest challenge to offering career management programs? Is it...?

Cost

Time

Lack of expertise

None of the above

Not our responsibility

33%

43%

16%

5%

0%

33%

45%

13%

4%

2%



How important would you say it is to your organization to provide employees the opportunities to reach their own career goals?

Is it...?


Atlantic Canada

National average

48%

44%

37%

42%

7%

6%

7%

5%

Very important Somewhat important Not very important Not at all important

41


Please visit the CERIC website at ceric.ca to download the National Business Survey Executive Summary

(available in English and French) and related informationas it becomes available.

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