New research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half reveals that 38 per cent of professionals have either started or are planning to start searching for a new job in the first half of this year, down from half in July 2024. An additional 39 per cent of workers say they are open to a new role if the right opportunity arises, reported the company in a press release.
Koula Vasilopoulos
“While many professionals right now are still interested in pursuing new roles, the decrease in active job seeking may lead to increasing hiring challenges for the nearly half of businesses planning to expand their workforce in 2025,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, Senior Managing Director, Robert Half, Canada. “Employers will need to focus on strategies that help them find the right talent, promote a smooth hiring process, and attract skilled workers to new roles.”
Top Factors Contributing to Job Search Plans, according to Robert Half
Once again, salary takes the lead as the main factor influencing job search plans. The top reasons workers cited for wanting a new position are:
- A higher salary (41%)
- Better perks and benefits (31%)
- More remote flexibility than what their company offers (27%)
- Greater professional development opportunities (20%)
Why Other Workers are Still Staying Put
When asked what influences their decision to stay with an employer, professionals pointed to a competitive salary with regular merit increases (74 per cent), fair and reasonable workloads and expectations (70 per cent), opportunities for career advancement and supportive managers (tied at 69 per cent), positive work and team cultures (68 per cent), and flexibility in when and where they work (66 per cent) as the driving factors, said the survey.
Worker Confidence Remains High
While job search plans have normalized from pandemic-era levels of heightened optimism, most workers (94 per cent) are confident in their skills and abilities, and 73 per cent of those reported learning new skills in the past 12 months. In addition, 72 per cent of workers said that they are confident they could find a new job if they needed to or were interested, added Robert Half.
Avoid Common Pitfalls When Hiring
Professionals said the biggest obstacles they face when job hunting are making their resumes stand out (70 per cent), identifying jobs that align with their skill sets, experiences and career goals (68 per cent), finding the time to search and apply for jobs and knowing when to follow up with the hiring manager/recruiter (tied at 55 per cent), explained the report.
The study also highlighted potential red flags that can deter workers from applying to open positions, including:
- No salary range in the job description (42%)
- Vague or unreasonable job responsibilities, reporting lines and career path (35%)
- Poor communication with the hiring manager or recruiter (33%)
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024 and 2025.
About Us
Canada’s Podcast is the number one podcast in Canada for entrepreneurs and business owners. Established in 2016, the podcast network has interviewed over 600 Canadian entrepreneurs from coast-to-coast.
With hosts in each province, entrepreneurs have a local and national format to tell their stories, talk about their journey and provide inspiration for anyone starting their entrepreneurial journey and well- established founders.
The commitment to a grass roots approach has built a loyal audience on all our social channels and YouTube – 500,000+ lifetime YouTube views, 200,000 + audio downloads, 35,000 + average monthly social impressions, 10,000 + engaged social followers and 35,000 newsletter subscribers. Canada’s Podcast is proud to provide a local, national and international presence for Canadian entrepreneurs to build their brand and tell their story.
