Staff turnover will continue to trouble employers, new research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half shows. According to the company’s biannual Job Optimism Survey of more than 500 workers in Canada, 31% of respondents said they are currently looking or plan to look for a new role in the second half of 2022, up slightly from six months ago.

Those most likely to pursue new opportunities are 18- to 40-year-olds (46%) and employees who have been with their company for 5-9 years (42%).

Overall, 80% of workers feel confident about their current skill set and marketability.

Competitive Pay Is Top of Mind

The main reasons professionals are looking for a new job are:

  • A salary boost (58%)
  • Greater opportunities for advancement (37%)
  • The ability to work remotely permanently (33%)

56% of workers considering a change plan to pursue hybrid positions while 51% are looking for fully remote positions. 42% are open to searching outside their city.

“Companies in Canada continue to face a scarcity of skilled talent,” said David King, Canadian senior managing director of Robert Half. “Attracting and hiring candidates is top of mind for many organizations right now as workers explore new job opportunities that offer higher compensation, better perks and benefits, and remote work options.”

“Managers are also taking more measures to help keep valued employees on board, including benchmarking salaries and making adjustments if appropriate, offering schedule flexibility, prioritizing advancement opportunities and implementing meaningful employee recognition programs,” added King.

About the Research

Robert Half’s Job Optimism Survey tracks worker sentiment on current and future career prospects and reveals key implications for employers. It’s an independent online survey of more than 500 workers 18 years of age or older in finance, technology, marketing, legal, administrative and customer support, human resources, and other areas at companies with 20 or more employees in Canada (conducted May 17-27, 2022).

Source: Robert Half