19% of Ontario employers plan to increase hiring in third quarter 2019, as high as 38% in one sector: survey

Based on “hiring intentions” of employers, a new survey of 1900 employers indicated that nineteen percent of employers plan to increase staffing levels, and seventy-seven percent plan to leave staffing unchanged (in other words, no reductions.)

This is in line with economic forecasting and bodes well for the job market. It may also increase competitiveness in the market for skilled positions, which already are seeing “bidding” for top candidates.

Ten industry sectors expect increases in hiring according to the report. [2]

Ontario Outlook: 19% of companies expect to hire

In Ontario, 19% of companies expected an increase in hiring. The top sectors across Ontario were:

• Public Administration: 38% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Construction: 25% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Transportation and Public Utilities: 22% of companies surveyed expecting an increase
• Manufacturing — Durables 19% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Wholesale and Retail Trade: 19% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Finance, Insurance & Real Estate: 18% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Mining: 18% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Education 16% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Services: 16% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Manufacturing — Non-Durables: 15% of companies surveyed projecting an increase

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Atlantic Canada projecting even more hiring

The top sectors in Atlantic Canada projected even higher as a percentage of companies:

• Construction: 38% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Finance, Insurance & Real Estate: 38% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Public Administration: 36% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Transportation and Utilities: 35% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Mining: 33% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Manufacturing Non-Durables: 31% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Manufacturing Durable Goods: 25% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Wholesale & Retail Trade: 23% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Services: 18% of companies surveyed projecting an increase
• Education: 17% of companies surveyed projecting an increase

According to Darlene Minatel, of Manpower Group, “The arrival of spring has brought good news for Canadian job seekers. Following a moderately upward swing in job growth at the start of 2019, the market is expected to grow through the next quarter.” [1]

Size of company matters

Location and size of company are also factors, with, for example, larger companies indicating higher intention to hire. Amongst respondents, the percentage increase in intention to hire appears to directly correlate to size:

• Large-size companies (250 or more people) 36% increase in hiring intention
• Mid-size companies (50-249 people) 23% increase in hiring intention
• Small-size companies (10-49 people) 17% increase in hiring intention
• “Micro”-size companies (less than 10 people) 8% increase in hiring intention

Regional differences

As indicated in the Ontario and Atlantic Canada numbers (above), there are also significant regional variances in the intention to hire in the third quarter:

• Atlantic Canada companies average 26% across all industries increase in hiring intention
• Ontario companies average 19% across all industries increase in hiring intention
• Quebec companies average 16% across all industries increase in hiring intention
• Western Canada companies average 16% across all industries increase in hiring intention.

Seasonally variances

Also, there are differences in terms of hiring intention by the permanence of position: full-time, part-time and seasonal. For example, the ““seasonally adjusted”” increase intention nets down significantly to 13% from 26% for Atlantic Canada. In Ontario, the seasonally adjusted number is 12% down from 19%, a less significant adjustment.

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NOTES
[1] HRReporter “Positive hiring climate expected in third quarter”
[2] Hiring Plans for Q3 2019 ManPower Group