In an effort to understand the state of career development in the Canadian workplace, CERIC commissioned Environics Research Group to survey 500 employers in the fall of 2013. The survey charts new territory with an in-depth look at the response of Canadian business to youth unemployment, the business view on just how real skills shortages are in this country, and insights on exactly how business is recruiting and training talent today. Among the questions that will be answered: In a world of LinkedIn, are resumes obsolete? What is the gap between what Canadian businesses want of young workers compared to what they actually bring to the job? And what kind of support are companies providing for career development today?

1. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business SurveyLocationComparison: Rural, Outside Major Cities, Major Cities
December 2014

2. Research Details
Survey conducted by: Environics Research Group
Survey methodology:
•Telephone survey conducted among 500 senior officials from Canadian business
•Survey took place from October 25 to November 11, 2013
•Sampling method designed to complete interviews within businesses randomly selected across Canada
•Results in this document may not add up to 100% (due to rounding or multiple responses as well as the omission of “don’t know” answers)
2

3. Respondents
97
274
129
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
3: Overview

4. Including yourself, how many employees doesyour company currently have?
63%
20%
3%
3%
9%
43%
24%
6%
7%
19%
42%
18%
2%
11%
27%
<10
10-49
50-99
100- 499
500+
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
4: Overview

5. Looking ahead to the coming year, what would you say is the greatest challenge facing Canadian businesses in general?
27%
21%
7%
10%
11%
9%
6%
5%
7%
6%
2%
4%
4%
2%
31%
22%
7%
8%
6%
5%
4%
8%
4%
4%
4%
4%
4%
4%
33%
25%
8%
3%
5%
7%
12%
4%
5%
5%
5%
3%
2%
2%
Shortage of skilled workers
General state of the economy
Foreign competition
Increasing overhead/operation costs
Shortage of quality workers (other)
Regulation/red tape
Financial growth/profitability
Taxes
Retirement of senior employees
Lack of funding/financing
Staff retention (general)
High Canadian dollar
Marketing/attracting new customers
Onboarding young workers
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
5: Overview

6. To what extent would you say that each of the following presents a challenge to your business right now?
6: Overview
8%
5%
8%
14%
12%
18%
46%
34%
36%
29%
27%
22%
43%
35%
31%
20%
16%
18%
41%
21%
16%
23%
25%
27%
48%
44%
47%
27%
34%
26%
39%
36%
36%
37%
44%
37%
31%
34%
28%
23%
31%
25%
20%
28%
22%
27%
27%
21%
8%
17%
22%
19%
19%
21%
14%
12%
22%
23%
23%
29%
19%
24%
29%
45%
39%
39%
9%
16%
13%
18%
14%
16%
11%
16%
17%
5%
8%
9%
23%
24%
23%
16%
24%
27%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Very challenging
Somewhat challenging
Not very challenging
Not at all challenging
Loss of senior employees
to retirement
Keeping up with technology
Shortageof skilled workers
Regulation and red tape
General state of the economy
Loss of talented employees to
otherorganizations
Finding young workers

7. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Recruitment: 6 Questions
7

8. In general, how easy or difficult is it to find people with the right skill set to fill positions in your company? Is it...?
8: Recruitment
5%
4%
9%
14%
25%
17%
41%
45%
47%
37%
23%
21%
1%
2%
4%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Very easy
Somewhat easy
Somewhat difficult
Very difficult
Depends on the position

9. What are the main reasons it is difficult tofind the right candidates?
58%
12%
28%
8%
14%
8%
5%
1%
3%
1%
65%
15%
14%
13%
10%
4%
3%
3%
2%
3%
68%
17%
3%
11%
12%
8%
3%
2%
2%
2%
Hard to find qualified candidates/with right skill set
Hard to find reliable candidates/with right work ethic
Company's physical location is a barrier
Very competitive job market in this industry
We can only offer low/uncompetitive wages(including seasonal)
Takes too much time/effort to find right candidate
Hard to break through noise/get job/company noticed
Traditional recruitment approaches no longer as effective
Don't provide career advancement opportunities
Regulations/ red tape (e.g. government, unions)
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
9: Recruitment

10. Has your business done any of the following in the past five years in order to find skilled employees?
44%
45%
61%
9%
14%
38%
54%
61%
51%
51%
65%
19%
29%
43%
67%
71%
52%
55%
68%
13%
41%
40%
65%
74%
Recruited through social media
Marketed the advantages of workingat your organisation
Offered training and advancementfor lower-level employees
Used automated resume software
Outsourced recruitment to searchor personnel firms
Used community employment agencies
Identified internal candidates
Employee referral
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
10: Recruitment

11. When searching for skilled employees, would you say that resumes matter more than in the past, less than in the pastor about the same as always?
11: Recruitment
14%
10%
8%
14%
12%
15%
71%
77%
76%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
More
Less
About the same

12. How important to you is a potential employeesonline profile or footprint? Is it...?
12: Recruitment
11%
11%
10%
36%
43%
39%
24%
26%
35%
25%
18%
14%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not at all important

13. And how much effort would you say your company puts into customizing the recruitment approach in order to reach and attract members of underrepresented groups?
13: Recruitment
16%
10%
16%
25%
35%
38%
54%
53%
40%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
A lot of effort
Some effort
Not much effort

14. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Skills Gap: 3 Questions
14

15. There is a gap between the skill level and experience that prospective employees have, and what organizations in my industry are looking for…
15: Skills Gap
28%
19%
26%
45%
54%
43%
18%
22%
23%
4%
2%
5%
Rural
Outside MajorCities
Major Cities
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
34%
36%
37%
14%
15%
17%
52%
47%
44%
Rural
Outside MajorCities
Major Cities
Increased
Decreased
Stayed the same
“Strongly Agree/Somewhat Agree”: In the past five years, would you say that the skills gap in your industry has increased, decreased or stayed the same?

16. “Strongly agree/Somewhat agree”: Which of the following statements is closer to your own opinion: The best way to close the skills gap is for…
16: Skills Gap
46%
37%
15%
44%
45%
10%
38%
43%
18%
…employers to offer more training to new employees
…prospective employees to better prepare themselves for the labour market
both/combinationof the two
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities

17. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Soft Skills: 4 Questions
17

18. What soft skills are most important to you in an employee?
38%
26%
25%
27%
14%
12%
11%
7%
10%
8%
6%
3%
4%
3%
5%
3%
2%
8%
38%
31%
20%
22%
18%
10%
12%
10%
8%
8%
5%
7%
6%
6%
4%
5%
4%
4%
29%
26%
34%
21%
22%
13%
9%
11%
10%
7%
10%
8%
6%
5%
6%
5%
8%
2%
Positive attitude
Communication skills
Teamwork skills
Strong work ethic
Interpersonal/customer service skills
Flexibility/adaptability
Honesty/integrity
Time management abilities
Reliability/dependability
Problem-solving skills
Accountability
Dedication/passion
Self-confidence
Willingness/ability to learn
Goal-oriented
Work well under pressure
Competence/diligence
Presentation
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
18: Soft Skills

19. How easy or difficult is it to find peoplewith these soft skills? Is it...?
19: Soft Skills
2%
4%
4%
22%
29%
29%
52%
49%
50%
20%
16%
16%
1%
1%
2%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Very easy
Somewhat easy
Somewhat difficult
Very difficult
Depends on position

20. If you are having difficulty finding technically skilled workers, is your organization more likely to...
20: Skills Gap
72%
16%
6%
62%
28%
8%
56%
29%
12%
Hire someone with soft skillswho is a good fit and providetraining
Keep searching until you findsomeone with the righttechnical skills
Depends
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities

21. Are senior level positions in your organizationmore likely to be filled by…?
21: Skills Gap
60%
19%
9%
62%
16%
16%
50%
28%
17%
Current employees who haveadvanced within theorganization
New employees brought infrom other organizations
Depends
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities

22. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Training: 8Questions
22

23. Does your organization provide new employees with any of the following types of training?
74%
59%
44%
84%
4%
81%
66%
44%
91%
2%
83%
67%
47%
87%
2%
Orientation
Mentorship
Apprenticeship
Job-specific training
Do not offer training
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
23: Training

24. Would you say that your organization is very willing, somewhat willing, not very willing or not at all willing to hire and train new employees who may lack in some technical skills?
24: Training
47%
39%
33%
32%
47%
43%
10%
9%
16%
5%
4%
5%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Very willing
Somewhat willing
Not very willing
Not at all willing

25. Would you say that losing skilled employees in which you have invested training to other organizations is...?
25: Training
29%
22%
29%
37%
42%
37%
23%
20%
23%
10%
16%
10%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
A great concern
Somewhat of a concern
Not really a concern
Not at all a concern

26. Does your organization use any of the followingto fill your labour needs?
42%
38%
31%
36%
25%
43%
39%
35%
35%
33%
44%
40%
37%
30%
40%
Co-operative educationprograms
Volunteer opportunities
Apprenticeships
Wage subsidy programs
Internships
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
26: Training

27. Does your organization provide ongoing trainingfor long-standing employees?
27: Training
72%
22%
84%
15%
87%
11%
Yes
No
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
36%
27%
36%
40%
20%
39%
43%
12%
43%
Technical
Soft Skills
Both
If “yes”, is the training you provide to staff technical in nature, or focused on soft skills,
such as team building or diversity awareness?

28. Does your organization provide employees with professional development opportunities, such as conferences or workshops?
28: Training
67%
27%
73%
27%
78%
19%
Yes
No
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities

29. Does your organization offer formal coaching ormentoring programs for employees?
29: Training
43%
51%
43%
55%
45%
53%
Yes
No
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities

30. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Youth Employment: 4 Questions
30

31. Which of the following do you think is the greatestreason unemployment is particularly highfor young workers under the age of 25?
14%
14%
2%
28%
7%
7%
8%
10%
18%
13%
4%
17%
12%
9%
10%
9%
19%
10%
5%
18%
13%
9%
13%
7%
A lack of real world experience
Older workers staying at their jobs longer
A lack of networking and job search skills
They are too demanding in the job they want
Fewer entry-level jobs available
Lack of soft skills
Lack of technical skills
Lack of communication skills necessary to conveyabilities in an application or interview
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
31: Youth Employment

32. When recruiting job candidates, how much effort does your company put into customizing the recruitment approach in order to reach young workers? Would you say...?
32: Youth Employment
22%
29%
42%
16%
43%
39%
21%
42%
35%
A lot of effort
Some effort
Not much effort
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities

33. Which of the following is your organization doingto attract younger workers?
39%
39%
33%
26%
18%
25%
16%
26%
58%
50%
40%
35%
34%
28%
24%
20%
59%
56%
37%
39%
33%
36%
28%
16%
Online job sites/boards
Recruiting through social media
Government sites
Recruiting on campuses
Taking part in job fairs
Offering paid internships
Offering unpaid internships
Recruiting through youth-servingagencies
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
33: Youth Employment

34. Would you say that hiring and training recent grads andyoung adults is part of your organization'sCorporate Social Responsibility?
34: Youth Employment
40%
55%
51%
45%
50%
47%
Yes
No
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities

35. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Career Management: 5Questions
35

36. Would you say that you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement: Employers have a responsibility to provide career management programs for their employees.
36: Career Management
21%
27%
32%
42%
43%
47%
23%
23%
15%
12%
7%
6%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree

37. Does your organization have careermanagement programs for employees?
37: Career Management
19%
76%
29%
70%
38%
57%
Yes
No
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
22%
11%
28%
22%
28%
11%
0%
32%
24%
18%
18%
16%
15%
10%
29%
33%
18%
18%
12%
12%
10%
Individually tailoredtraining/coaching
Career planning/training/ education
Succession/ advancement programs
Skills developmentprograms
Mentorship/ apprenticeship programs
Educationreimbursement/trainingencouragement
Leadership programs
If “yes”, what are they?

38. Of the following, which presents the greatest challenge to offering career management programs? Is it...?
33%
40%
16%
4%
2%
32%
46%
14%
4%
2%
33%
44%
11%
4%
2%
Cost
Time
Lack of expertise
None of the above
Not our responsibility
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
38: Career Management

39. How important would you say it is to your organization to provide employees the opportunities to reach their own career goals? Is it...?
39: Career Management
39%
46%
45%
45%
41%
43%
6%
7%
5%
4%
5%
7%
Rural
Outside Major Cities
Major Cities
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very important
Not at all important

40. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace: National Business Survey
Please visit the CERIC website at ceric.ca to download the National Business Survey Executive Summary
(available in English and French) and related information
as it becomes available.
40