Half of Canadian companies intend to boost their workforce in the first half of 2025, new survey results show. According to an Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll, 51 per cent of employers plan to add staff, 41 per cent plan to maintain current headcounts and eight per cent expect to reduce positions.
The poll indicates that 71 per cent of companies feel positive about hiring in 2025. Of those, 39 per cent say they are optimistic, 36 per cent say they are confident and 35 per cent say they are hopeful. In the first half of 2024, a similar 70 per cent reported a positive outlook.
Increased workloads, cited by 58 per cent of respondents, is the biggest factor driving higher headcounts, while 45 per cent say they need staff for newly created positions. Employee turnover, the need for new expertise and business expansion also factor into hiring. Managing extra work caused by artificial intelligence concerns has risen from 10 per cent last year to 18 per cent now.
“There is a lot of optimism in the market going into 2025,” said Brent Pollington, an Express franchise owner in Vancouver, British Columbia. “The positive outlook seems to stem from a combination of factors including market conditions, perceptions of continued growth, and the potential for lowering interest rates, among other things.”
Pollington also said employers face rising hiring costs and skills shortages. “The cost per employee for businesses has drastically increased,” he said. “Worker expectations, market factors, minimum wage hikes, increased demands for benefits and perks, retention strategies, turnover costs, and the time and resources needed to train new employees have all driven these costs higher.”
“Companies are also dealing with the lack of skilled workers in the market which has forced them to focus more on training and development, as well as long-term succession planning,” said Pollington. “Employers are spending significant time and energy solving these issues.”
Bill Stoller, Express Employment International CEO, said businesses are looking ahead despite near-term challenges. “The positive sentiments among hiring managers highlight a resilient and forward-thinking workforce,” he said. “Businesses are strategically positioning themselves for growth, addressing immediate needs like increased workloads and turnover, while also preparing for future challenges such as AI and cybersecurity. The outlook for 2025 is promising, driven by a workforce ready to innovate and adapt.”
The poll was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals from Nov. 11 to 26, 2024, among 505 Canadian hiring decision-makers.
