Nearly half (46 per cent) of Canadian employers say they plan to add new permanent positions in the first half of 2025, while 49 per cent plan to fill vacated positions, according to a new survey by Robert Half Canada.

The survey, which polled more than 1,000 employers, found among managers who plan to increase hiring, nearly half (47 per cent) cited company growth as the primary factor influencing their hiring decisions for the first half of 2025, followed by employee turnover rates (44 per cent) and the emergence of new projects (41 per cent). Indeed, 54 per cent said they’re increasing the number of contract professionals to aid with projects in 2025.

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When asked about the ramifications of not filling open roles, employers cited decreased productivity (40 per cent) as the No. 1 consequence, followed by employee burnout (39 per cent), delayed project timelines (34 per cent) and inability to support critical business initiatives (31 per cent).

To secure in-demand candidates and help keep projects on track, hiring managers are turning to strategies such as encouraging current employee referrals through referral bonuses (35 per cent), offering paid internships for current students or recent graduates (34 per cent), developing or enhancing mentorship programs (34 per cent) and outlining clear career paths within departments to attract internal candidates (33 per cent).

“2024 has seen many hiring challenges, from skills gaps and talent shortages to new in-office policies and wider economic conditions,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, senior managing director at Robert Half Canada, in a press release. “While hiring plans remain high as we enter 2025, businesses must ensure they have the right hiring strategies in place to keep key initiatives running smoothly, complete projects on time, achieve goals and attract top talent for the future. In addition, they need to mitigate burnout and decreased productivity from overstretched teams through strong retention plans.”

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