Nearly all Canadian hiring managers say finding talent has become more time-consuming, with almost a quarter admitting to making expensive hiring errors in recent years that hurt team productivity and increase turnover.
A Robert Half survey of more than 1,500 hiring managers across Canada found that 94 per cent report the hiring process now takes longer than it did two years ago, while 88 per cent say finding qualified candidates remains difficult.
The extended timelines are hitting companies at multiple stages of recruitment. More than half of managers (53 per cent) say evaluating applications and deciding who to interview takes longer, while 48 per cent report that thorough reference checking requires more time. Four in 10 managers say scheduling and conducting interviews has become more drawn out.
Hiring mistakes cost teams productivity
The pressure to fill positions quickly appears to be backfiring. Nearly a quarter of managers (24 per cent) admit to making a hiring mistake in the past two years, with consequences that ripple through their organizations.
These poor hires take an average of four weeks to identify as problems, but the damage occurs immediately. Teams lose more than 15 hours of productivity per week due to performance issues from employees who don’t meet expectations, according to the survey results.
More than half of managers (56 per cent) say bad hires led to turnover on their teams, creating additional recruitment costs and workflow disruption.
“In the current hiring landscape, companies need to take a streamlined and strategic approach to hiring to find the right talent for business-critical needs,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, Senior Managing Director at Robert Half Canada. “The hiring process can be overwhelming, but businesses who prioritize thoroughness and clarity, without compromising efficiency, will be best positioned to hire top talent and to avoid the long-term consequences of making the wrong hire.”
Soft skills assessment tops hiring failure factors
The most common factor behind hiring mistakes was failing to consider soft skills and company cultural fit, cited by half of managers surveyed. Nearly as many (49 per cent) said they didn’t properly assess technical skills and qualifications.
One-third of managers blamed unclear job descriptions and role duties communicated to candidates for their hiring errors.
The findings come from research conducted by Robert Half, a talent solutions firm, through an independent research company in April 2025. The survey included responses from hiring managers at Canadian companies with 10 or more employees.
As companies work to stay competitive and meet business goals, the extended hiring timelines and costly mistakes highlight the challenge of balancing speed with quality in recruitment decisions.
