In the midst of high inflation rates, the skyrocketing cost of living and job insecurity, many Canadians are hoping to land a position that rakes in more money in the new year. In fact, according to the Job Optimism Survey from business consulting firm Robert Half, 50 per cent of Canadian workers are looking for, or plan to look for, a new role in 2023.
Related: How to ask your boss for a reference – an expert’s advice.
The survey, which went out to over 1,100 Canadian professionals aged 18 or older, saw that half of the respondents would be on the hunt for a new job in the first half of the new year – which is reportedly 31 per cent higher than it was six months ago.
This rate was even higher in Gen Z and Millennials (56 per cent), technology professionals (57 per cent), employees who have been at the same company for two-to-four years (61 per cent) and working parents (55 per cent).
“Many Canadian workers continue to have confidence in the job market despite news of layoffs and a slowdown in hiring,” Robert Half, Canada and South America Senior Managing Director David King explains. “Professionals with in-demand skills know they have leverage given the talent shortage, and are open to new opportunities that offer more fulfilling work, a higher salary, and improved perks and benefits.”
See also: Up your career skills with social media – here’s how.
Why are many Canadians hunting for new jobs?
Money once again ranked the highest in terms of motivators for a career change – making it the fourth time in a row that it topped the list of motivators on the survey. According to the report, the main reasons Canadian professionals were on the hunt for a new role in the first half of the new year were to get a higher salary (62 per cent), better benefits and perks (39 per cent), better advancement opportunities (30 per cent) and more flexibility to decide when and where they work (27 per cent).
Additionally, almost 30 per cent of professionals are debating quitting their job to move into full-time contracting, and 40 per cent of professionals were willing to return to a former employer if they were given a salary that was equal to or more than their current one.
Related: This is how much money you need to be happy: research.
What are the biggest turn-offs that cause candidates to lose interest?
The survey also looked at what may cause candidates to lose interest in a role during their job hunt. The top turn-offs were unclear or unreasonable job responsibilities (55 per cent), poor communication from the hiring manager (46 per cent) and not being aligned with the company culture or values (35 per cent).
So, while many workers are on the hunt for something new, they’re still looking for companies that prioritize employee well-being.
You may also like: 20 Canadian jobs that pay more than $300K.
