Labour market: optimism on the agenda this summer quarter

Findings of the Quebec employment outlook survey for the third quarter of 2013

MONTREAL, July 31, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The third quarter of 2013 looks promising for hiring in Quebec companies. This is the main finding of the latest Flash-Emploi CRHA newsletter released by the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés. This quarterly survey, conducted in collaboration with AppEco Analytics, analysis, strategy and communication consultants, indicates how HR professionals expect the Quebec labour market to develop in the coming months.

Hiring outlook favourable
Data gathered from 324 human resource professionals points to positive development for the Quebec labour market. Some 39.5% of CHRPs and CIRCs who completed the survey said they anticipated an increase in hiring in the next months, compared to only 12.9% who expect to see the workforce decrease, for a net difference of +26.6%. "These figures suggest that Quebec organizations will soon be creating many jobs. However, we also have to remember that companies might simply be hiring temporary workers due to the summer vacation period. We'll have to wait for the fourth-quarter data in October to assess the longer-term effect of hirings in this third quarter," explained Florent Francoeur, CHRP, Ordre President and CEO.

Even though school summer breaks have expanded the pool of available labour, three professionals out of ten think they will have to intensify their efforts to fill vacant positions. Also noted was a net increase of +19.6% in hours worked per employee, i.e., a net difference twice as high as in the first quarter of 2013 (+3.9%). According to the HR professionals surveyed, the Quebec labour market should be robust over the next few months.

Salary increases: above-inflation forecasts
For the fourth quarter in a row, the anticipated gap between pay rises and inflation is clearly positive (+31.8%). More specifically, 89.4% of the CHRPs and CIRCs interviewed reported that their organization was planning to grant salary increases equal to or higher than inflation.

Quebec City and large corporations stand out from the crowd
Quebec City is in a strong position in terms of employment with net employing workers indicator (75.0%) and hours worked (72.6%) figures higher than any other region in the province, while large corporations have emerged from their slump of recent quarters (net hirings +27.5%, versus -0.2% in the previous quarter; hours worked +23.0%, compared to 9.8% in the second quarter).

"Overall, this edition of the Flash-Emploi CRHA newsletter suggests an encouraging future in the short term. It will be interesting to see how the labour market will really develop when Statistics Canada publishes its data on employment and hours worked in the near future," concluded Florent Francoeur.

Click here for the detailed report: www.portailrh.org/presse/flashemploi/ (in French only)

Methodology
The indices presented in this quarterly newsletter are based on responses to a survey conducted from June 19 to July 3, 2013, among a random sample of members of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés (CRHA). In all, 324 respondents participated in this survey, representing a margin of error of 5.4%, 19 times out of 20. In the case of organizations with a number of Ordre members, only the response of the main HR manager was retained. The responses were weighted according to the size of the organization and were not seasonally adjusted. The total percentages may not always equal 100% due to rounding of values. The analysis of this survey was carried out by AppEco Analytics, analysis, strategy and communication consultants (www.appeco.ca).

About the Ordre
With 9,000 members, the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés is the fifth largest association of its kind in the world. It is the only organization in Quebec mandated to award human resources professionals a title certifying their competency.

The Ordre is a leader in employee management practices. Committed to innovation, it supports the ongoing development of human resources professionals (CHRPs) and industrial relations counsellors (CIRCs), thus helping to maintain a healthy balance between employee well-being and organizational success. It is vigilant in ensuring that this multifaceted function promotes leading-edge solutions that address the major issues impacting the workforce.

Through its actions in the public arena, the Ordre contributes to the advancement and reputation of the profession and plays a key influential role in the world of work in Quebec.

SOURCE: Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés

Justine Delisle, CHRP
Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés
Tel.: [phone], ext. 235; 1 800 214-1609
Cell phone: [phone]
[email protected]