1. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:
National Business Survey
Regional Comparison: Ontario
March 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 omission of “don’t know” answers)
2

3. Respondents
87
108
105
95
105
Bri+sh
Columbia
Prairies
Ontario
Quebec
Atlan+c
Canada
3: Overview

4. Which industry is your organization in?
16%
16%
5%
10%
5%
7%
5%
6%
5%
5%
4%
3%
4%
1%
2%
3%
0%
2%
2%
24%
12%
8%
8%
7%
6%
4%
4%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2%
1%
1%
Service
Manufacturing
Hospitality
Health
care
Educa+on
Retail
Non-­‐profit
Finance
Technology
Public
administra+on
Natural
resources
Agriculture
Construc+on
Entertainment/Recrea+on
Professional
services
Automo+ve
(including
repair)
Energy
Transporta+on/Warehousing
Distribu+on
Ontario
Na+onal
average
4: Overview

5. Including yourself, how many employees does
your company currently have?
36%
12%
3%
13%
33%
46%
22%
4%
7%
19%
<10
10-­‐49
50-­‐99
100-­‐49
9
500+
Ontario
Na+onal
average
5: Overview

6. Looking ahead to the coming year, what would you say is the
greatest challenge facing Canadian businesses in general?
23%
32%
9%
6%
7%
12%
6%
5%
8%
5%
7%
5%
3%
6%
3%
2%
31%
22%
7%
7%
7%
6%
6%
6%
5%
4%
4%
4%
4%
3%
3%
3%
Shortage
of
skilled
workers
General
state
of
the
economy
Foreign
compe++on
Increasing
overhead/opera+on
costs
Shortage
of
quality
workers
(other)
Regula+on/red
tape
Financial
growth/profitability
Taxes
Re+rement
of
senior
employees
Lack
of
funding/financing
Staff
reten+on
(general)
High
Canadian
dollar
Marke+ng/aarac+ng
new
customers
Onboarding
young
workers
Keeping
up
with
technology
Compe++on
(other)
Ontario
Na+onal
average
6: Overview

7. To what extent would you say that each of the following
presents a challenge to your business right now?
7: Overview
5%
6%
14%
14%
24%
37%
37%
26%
36%
36%
12%
17%
10%
24%
29%
25%
48%
45%
35%
31%
34%
37%
50%
41%
36%
32%
28%
28%
27%
25%
20%
25%
24%
16%
11%
19%
9%
15%
21%
25%
29%
24%
34%
40%
15%
14%
15%
15%
10%
16%
5%
8%
27%
24%
32%
23%
Ontario
Na*onal
average
Ontario
Na*onal
average
Ontario
Na*onal
average
Ontario
Na*onal
average
Ontario
Na*onal
average
Ontario
Na*onal
average
Ontario
Na*onal
average
Very
challenging
Somewhat
challenging
Not
very
challenging
Not
at
all
challenging
Loss
of
senior
employees
to
re+rement
Keeping
up
with
technology
Shortage
of
skilled
workers
Regula+on
and
red
tape
General
state
of
the
economy
Loss
of
talented
employees
to
other
organiza+on
Finding
young
workers

8. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:
National Business Survey
Recruitment: 7 Questions
8

9. In general, how easy or difficult is it to find people with the
right skill set to fill positions in your company? Is it...?
9: Recruitment
7%
6%
31%
21%
47%
45%
13%
25%
1%
2%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
Very
easy
Somewhat
easy
Somewhat
difficult
Very
difficult
Depends
on
the
posi+on

10. What are the main reasons it is difficult to
find the right candidates?
73%
14%
6%
14%
16%
3%
0%
2%
2%
2%
64%
15%
14%
12%
11%
6%
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
loca+on
is
a
barrier
Very
compe++ve
job
market
in
this
industry
We
can
only
offer
low/uncompe++ve
wages
(including
seasonal)
Takes
too
much
+me/effort
to
find
right
candidate
Hard
to
break
through
noise/get
job/company
no+ced
Tradi+onal
recruitment
approaches
no
longer
as
effec+ve
Don't
provide
career
advancement
opportuni+es
Regula+ons/
red
tape
(e.g.
government,
unions)
Ontario
Na+onal
average
10: Recruitment

11. Has your business done any of the following in the past five
years in order to find skilled employees?
53%
48%
71%
27%
42%
49%
69%
74%
50%
51%
65%
15%
29%
41%
64%
70%
Recruited
through
social
media
Marketed
the
advantages
of
working
at
your
organisa+on
Offered
training
and
advancement
for
lower-­‐level
employees
Used
automated
resume
sokware
Outsourced
recruitment
to
search
or
personnel
firms
Used
community
employment
agencies
Iden+fied
internal
candidates
Employee
referral
Ontario
Na+onal
average
11: Recruitment

12. When searching for skilled employees, would you say that
resumes matter more than in the past, less than in the past
or about the same as always?
12: Recruitment
9%
10%
8%
13%
83%
76%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
More
Less
About
the
same

13. How important to you is a potential employees
online profile or footprint? Is it...?
13: Recruitment
11%
11%
48%
41%
22%
28%
18%
18%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not
very
important
Not
at
all
important

14. 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?
14: Recruitment
12%
13%
41%
34%
46%
50%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
A
lot
of
effort
Some
effort
Not
much
effort

15. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:
National Business Survey
Skills Gap: 3 Questions
15

16. There is a gap between the skill level and experience that
prospective employees have, and what organizations in my
industry are looking for…
16: Skills Gap
24%
23%
58%
50%
16%
21%
1%
3%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
Strongly
agree
Somewhat
agree
Somewhat
disagree
Strongly
disagree
37%
36%
15%
15%
47%
48%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
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?

17. Q16: “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…
17: Skills Gap
35%
49%
14%
43%
43%
13%
...Employers
to
offer
more
training
to
new
employees
...Prospec+ve
employees
to
beaer
prepare
themselves
for
the
labour
market
Both/combina+on
of
the
two
Ontario
Na+onal
Average

18. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:
National Business Survey
Soft Skills: 4 Questions
18

19. What soft skills are most important to you in an employee?
36%
37%
28%
30%
21%
11%
7%
12%
7%
5%
4%
10%
2%
8%
3%
5%
5%
2%
36%
29%
25%
23%
18%
11%
11%
10%
9%
8%
7%
6%
6%
5%
5%
5%
5%
4%
Posi+ve
aptude
Communica+on
skills
Teamwork
skills
Strong
work
ethic
Interpersonal/customer
service
skills
Flexibility/adaptability
Honesty/integrity
Time
management
abili+es
Reliability/dependability
Problem-­‐solving
skills
Accountability
Dedica+on/passion
Self-­‐confidence
Willingness/ability
to
learn
Goal-­‐oriented
Work
well
under
pressure
Competence/diligence
Presenta+on
Ontario
Na+onal
average
19: Soft Skills

20. How easy or difficult is it to find people
with these soft skills? Is it...?
20: Soft Skills
2%
3%
24%
27%
61%
50%
12%
17%
0%
1%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
Very
easy
Somewhat
easy
Somewhat
difficult
Very
difficult
Depends
on
posi+on

21. If you are having difficulty finding technically skilled workers,
is your organization more likely to...
21: Skills Gap
48%
33%
14%
62%
26%
9%
Hire
someone
with
sok
skills
who
is
a
good
fit
and
provide
training
Keep
searching
un+l
you
find
someone
with
the
right
technical
skills
Depends
Ontario
Na+onal
Average

22. Are senior level positions in your organization
more likely to be filled by…?
22: Skills Gap
49%
23%
23%
58%
19%
15%
Current
employees
who
have
advanced
within
the
organiza+on
New
employees
brought
in
from
other
organiza+ons
Depends
Ontario
Na+onal
Average

23. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:
National Business Survey
Training: 8 Questions
23

24. Does your organization provide new employees with any of
the following types of training?
90%
70%
35%
90%
2%
80%
65%
45%
88%
3%
Orienta+on
Mentorship
Appren+ceship
Job-­‐specific
training
Do
not
offer
training
Ontario
Na+onal
average
24: Training

25. 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?
25: Training
34%
39%
48%
43%
11%
11%
4%
5%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
Very
willing
Somewhat
willing
Not
very
willing
Not
at
all
willing

26. Would you say that losing skilled employees in which you have
invested training to other organizations is...?
26: Training
20%
25%
56%
39%
13%
21%
10%
14%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
A
great
concern
Somewhat
of
a
concern
Not
really
a
concern
Not
at
all
a
concern

27. Does your organization use any of the following
to fill your labour needs?
62%
38%
30%
36%
45%
43%
39%
35%
34%
33%
Co-­‐opera+ve
educa+on
programs
Volunteer
opportuni+es
Appren+ceships
Wage
subsidy
programs
Internships
Ontario
Na+onal
average
27: Training

28. Does your organization provide ongoing training
for long-standing employees?
28: Training
90%
8%
82%
17%
Yes
No
Ontario
Na+onal
Region
35%
15%
2%
46%
40%
19%
1%
39%
Technical
Sok
Skills
Both
Depends
If
“yes”,
is
the
training
you
provide
to
staff
technical
in
nature,
or
focused
on
sok
skills,
such
as
team
building
or
diversity
awareness?

29. Does your organization provide employees with professional
development opportunities, such as conferences or workshops?
29: Training
80%
16%
73%
25%
Yes
No
Ontario
Na+onal
Average

30. Does your organization offer formal coaching or
mentoring programs for employees?
30: Training
49%
47%
44%
54%
Yes
No
Ontario
Na+onal
Average

31. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:
National Business Survey
Youth Employment: 4 Questions
31

32. Which of the following do you think is the greatest
reason unemployment is particularly high
for young workers under the age of 25?
16%
16%
4%
16%
20%
6%
8%
11%
18%
12%
4%
19%
12%
9%
11%
9%
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
sok
skills
Lack
of
technical
skills
Lack
of
communica+on
skills
necessary
to
convey
abili+es
in
an
applica+on
or
interview
Ontario
Na+onal
average
32: Youth Employment

33. 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...?
33: Youth Employment
15%
37%
44%
18%
40%
39%
A
lot
of
effort
Some
effort
Not
much
effort
Ontario
Na+onal
Average

34. Which of the following is your organization doing
to attract younger workers?
73%
51%
40%
42%
40%
38%
24%
28%
55%
49%
38%
34%
31%
29%
24%
20%
Online
job
sites/boards
Recrui+ng
through
social
media
Government
sites
Recrui+ng
on
campuses
Taking
part
in
job
fairs
Offering
paid
internships
Offering
unpaid
internships
Recrui+ng
through
youth-­‐serving
agencies
Ontario
Na+onal
average
34: Youth Employment

35. Would you say that hiring and training recent grads and
young adults is part of your organization's
Corporate Social Responsibility?
35: Youth Employment
52%
40%
49%
47%
Yes
No
Ontario
Na+onal
Average

36. Career Development in the Canadian Workplace:
National Business Survey
Professional Development: 5 Questions
36

37. 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.
37: Professional Development
33%
27%
43%
44%
19%
21%
4%
8%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
Strongly
agree
Somewhat
agree
Somewhat
disagree
Strongly
disagree

38. Does your organization have career
management programs for employees?
38: Professional Development
43%
54%
29%
68%
Yes
No
Ontario
Na+onal
27%
38%
18%
27%
13%
24%
11%
29%
25%
19%
18%
16%
14%
9%
Individually
tailored
training/coaching
Career
planning/
training/
educa+on
Succession/
advancement
programs
Skills
development
programs
Mentorship/
appren+ceship
programs
Educa+on
reimbursement/training
encouragement
Leadership
programs
If
“yes”,
what
are
they?

39. Of the following, which presents the greatest challenge to
offering career management programs? Is it...?
43%
43%
10%
2%
2%
33%
45%
13%
4%
2%
Cost
Time
Lack
of
exper+se
None
of
the
above
Not
our
responsibility
Ontario
Na+onal
average
39: Professional Development

40. How important would you say it is to your organization to provide
employees the opportunities to reach their own career goals?
Is it...?
40: Professional Development
42%
44%
50%
42%
5%
6%
3%
5%
Ontario
Na+onal
average
Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not
very
important
Not
at
all
important

41. 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.
41