Nearly half of Canadian employers plan to add new permanent staff during the first half of 2025, as many companies move to keep pace with growth and backfill positions, according to new research from Robert Half Canada Inc.
In a survey of more than 1,050 managers with hiring responsibilities, 46 per cent said they plan to create new permanent roles, and 49 per cent intend to fill jobs left open by departures. The findings represent a slight drop in net new hiring intentions compared with the latter half of 2024, while plans to fill vacated positions are on the rise, the firm said Dec. 12.
Almost 54 per cent of respondents also said they are increasing their use of contract professionals to manage workloads and complete projects in 2025, according to the survey.
“While hiring plans remain high as we enter 2025, businesses must ensure they have the right hiring strategies in place to keep key initiatives running smoothly,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, senior managing director at Robert Half, Canada. “In addition, they need to mitigate burnout and decreased productivity from overstretched teams through strong retention plans,” she said.
Managers who plan to expand their workforces cited company growth as a primary reason for hiring. About 47 per cent named expansion as the top driver, while 44 per cent pointed to employee turnover and 41 per cent mentioned new projects.
The survey found that managers are worried about the impact of unfilled roles, with 40 per cent saying it reduces productivity, 39 per cent citing the strain on current staff and 34 per cent noting it delays project timelines.
To secure in-demand talent, nearly 40 per cent of managers said they plan to use staffing firms to find qualified candidates. Some are also turning to internal employee referral bonuses, paid internships, mentorship programs and internal career paths.
The research was conducted online in December 2024 by an independent firm and surveyed managers at companies with 20 or more employees across finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, and human resources.