Most Canadian employers say their main concern in 2024 is rising costs as the economy cools and inflation remains high, according to a new global survey.
Among the countries surveyed, businesses in the United Kingdom ranked the highest in expressing concern about rising costs, with about 87 per cent of employers surveyed sharing that concern, followed by Australia at 85 per cent, Ireland at 85 per cent, New Zealand at 83 per cent and Canada at 82 per cent.
The survey asked 79,000 small- and medium-sized businesses in Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom about their top concerns in 2024 and how they addressed staff shortages and employee retention. The poll was conducted by Peninsula Group, an international human resources and health and safety consulting firm.
Along with rising costs, Canadian employers are also worried about labour shortage (47.8 per cent) and employee retention (45.6 per cent), according to the survey.
“Despite the tough economic climate, there is an air of optimism amongst small business owners as we move into 2024,” Peninsula Canada CEO Raj Singh said in a press release Thursday. “Compared to this time last year there has been a notable surge in employers dedicating greater resources to the development and growth of their staff.”
Despite these concerns, Peninsula’s survey found many businesses are still optimistic about the future, with 44 per cent of them stating their main goal for 2024 is growth. However, this is down from 58.7 per cent last year.
Among the countries, U.K. businesses surveyed had the biggest motivation for growth with 46 per cent, followed by Ireland (45.9 per cent), Canada (44.7 per cent), Australia (43.7 per cent) and New Zealand (41.6 per cent), the survey found.
When asked about staffing challenges, companies said recruitment of top talent was their top concern. Canadian employers (19.2 per cent) had the least concerns about recruitment, while Australia was most worried about it (30.7 per cent).
Businesses in the U.K. (29.5 per cent) and New Zealand (25.4 per cent) also cited recruitment as their biggest staffing challenge.
As for retaining top talent, 64.9 per cent of Canadian employers and 49.3 per cent of U.K. companies are offering financial remuneration. Meanwhile, nearly 60 per cent of Australia and New Zealand employers are offering flexible working hours.
Canadian businesses unable to offer financial remuneration are instead providing flexible working hours (60 per cent) and reward and recognition (58.7 per cent).
To tackle the labour and skills shortage, 80 per cent of Canadian employers said they increased pay, the highest among the countries, followed by Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. at 55.5 per cent, 52.9 per cent and 52.8 per cent, respectively.
Canadian employers have also turned to apprentices to fill the gap, with a 217 per cent increase year over year.
As well, Canadian employers have handled the ongoing labour and skills shortage by offering flexible working hours (54.8 per cent) and upskilling and training (50.8 per cent).
While hybrid and remote work became common during the pandemic, more than half of employers surveyed in each country said all employees returned to the office full time in 2023. Among the countries, Canada ranked the highest in this category, with 53.5 per cent of employees back in the workplace and 26.7 per cent of them with flexible working hours.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
