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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%
National average Atlantic Canada
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%
National averageAtlantic Canada
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%
National averageAtlantic Canada
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
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:National Business Survey
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
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:National Business Survey
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%
National averageAtlantic Canada
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%
Atlantic Region National Average
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%
Atlantic Region National Average
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:National Business Survey
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%
National average Atlantic Canada
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%
National average Atlantic Canada
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%
Atlantic Region National Average
Does your organization offer formal coaching ormentoring programs for employees?
30: Training
Yes No
41%
59%
44%
54%
Atlantic Region National Average
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:National Business Survey
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...?
33: Youth Employment
A lot of effort Some effort Not much effort
9%
41%
50%
18%
40% 39%
Atlantic Region National Average
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
34: Youth Employment
Would you say that hiring and training recent grads andyoung adults is part of your organization's
Corporate Social Responsibility?
35: Youth Employment
Yes No
50%
48%
49%
47%
Atlantic Region National Average
Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:National Business Survey
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?
38: Professional Development
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%
National averageAtlantic Canada
39: Professional Development
How important would you say it is to your organization to provide employees the opportunities to reach their own career goals?
Is it...?
40: Professional Development
Atlantic Canada
National average
48%
44%
37%
42%
7%
6%
7%
5%
Very important Somewhat important Not very important Not at all important
41
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 informationas it becomes available.