Canada's employers boost salaries to attract new talent while pay for existing staff lags

Ninth annual Hays Salary Guide reveals plans to hire but job market pressure mounts 

TORONTO, Dec. 3, 2018 /CNW/ - According to the ninth annual Hays Canada Salary Guide released today, employers across Canada will cap 2018 as a year of growth with more than half intending to hire permanent staff in the year ahead. While sixty-three per cent expect the booming economy to add to their bottom line, less than a quarter plan to give salary raises greater than three percent. The Hays poll also found employers have chosen instead to boost salary offers to entice new candidates – a concerning signal that the country's employers are struggling in a tight labour market.   

Conducted this past fall, the 2019 Hays Canada Salary Guide survey revealed employers had another strong year. Optimism is high and business is thriving as evidenced by the 37 per cent year-over-year increase in the number of companies planning to grow their staff. Conversely, Hays found employers offering raises of anything more than a cost of living increase has hit a five-year low yet, 61 per cent admit they have hiked salaries to attract candidates even at the risk of potentially losing current staff. Compounding the issue is the fact that nearly three quarters of employers said that a shortage of skilled workers has resulted in heavier employee workloads and heightened stress.

"Despite 2018 success, the negative impact of talent shortages is at its highest point since 2015," said Rowan O'Grady, President of Hays Canada. "From an employer's perspective, the job market is extremely competitive and without the right people in place, next year's business goals could end up in doubt. So, employers have curtailed spending on existing staff in favour of getting new candidates through the door. The intent may come from a good place, but this is a band-aid solution for a complicated challenge. Without taking a more holistic view of staffing or having smart support and advice, further workforce problems are all but inevitable."

Lessons learned and preparing for battle in an employees' market

A commitment to increasing permanent headcount likely stems from lessons learned in 2017 when unanticipated business growth led to contract staff hiring at double the expected rate. New data suggests that last year's erroneous forecasting and what was thought to be an unwillingness to commit to long-term staff has since given way to prudent 2019 business planning. When asked, employers said they expect to take on contract and temporary staff to address the need for special skills but permanent hiring remains a priority within IT (45%) and financial (48%) departments.

Many experts acknowledge that employees have the upper hand in the current job market. Hays' labour market experts observed a spike in job vacancies in 2018. New positions and opportunities are being created each day, leading many to shift roles at an increasing rate. This, coupled with stagnating salaries for current employees, will spark churn as the economy continues to soar.

Encouragingly, employers said they have taken steps to protect their talent assets. Slightly more than half of Hays Salary Guide respondents noted that salary is a retention challenge followed by career progression (42%). In response, 53 per cent are working to make compensation and benefits packages more attractive while a similar number (50%) promote their working environments and professional development (39%) among current and prospective employees. An ongoing companion study conducted by Hays validates this strategy having demonstrated that employees seek salary alongside training opportunities and rewarding culture.  

"Many Canadians have followed through on their vow to leave companies that don't meet their expectations and it's reassuring to see employers taking ownership of the problem," added O'Grady. "This is as much about career growth, variety and challenge as it is about salary and many employers have figured that out. All signs point to a tightening employee market in 2019 so, I sincerely hope to see more of this type of action in the year ahead."

For additional insights, including sector specific data and regional breakdowns, click here to view a snapshot of the 2019 Hays Salary Guide. 

About Hays
Hays plc (the "Group") is a leading global professional recruiting group and is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK and Asia Pacific and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe and Latin America. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As at 30 June 2018 the Group employed 10,978 staff operating from 257 offices in 33 markets across 20 specialisms. For the year ended 30 June 2018, the Group reported net fees of £1.072 billion and operating profit (pre-exceptional items) of £243.4 million.

SOURCE Hays Canada

For a copy of the 2019 Salary Guide or to speak with a Hays expert, please contact: Carla Maggiotto, Media Profile, [email protected], 416-342-1829; Jenna Bruno, Media Profile, [email protected], 416-342-1832