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2024 Q4 State of Hiring Key Trends and Numbers

72% of CEOs Plan to Increase Headcount44

A recent survey reveals that 87% of North American CEOs remain confident in the country's economy's growth prospects. This optimism extends to their organizations, with 72% of CEOs expecting to increase headcounts over the next 12 months. 44

Notably, 32% anticipate a significant uptick in hiring, while only 4% foresee workforce reductions. Canada’s population grew last year at its fastest rate since 1957, with immigration driving nearly all of this growth. With more than 1 million foreign students, Canada now hosts roughly the same number of international students as the United States despite having just one-eighth of the population.

65% of Recruiters Say AI Can’t ID Great Talent41

According to a recent survey, while 95% of recruiters have tried AI, only 35% believe AI is effective at helping them identify the right candidates.

53% of Hiring Managers Have Issues with AI Generated Resumes42

48% Say Companies Lack Needed Skills38

Nearly half of HR leaders (48%) identify a lack of needed skills as the top threat to organizational success.38 This skills gap is partially driven by the need to adapt to emerging technologies such as AI, but CEOs say they are also prioritizing cognitive skills—such as creative and analytical thinking, curiosity, and a commitment to lifelong learning. This suggests CEOs are focused on forging adaptable and resilient teams as they navigate near-term risks and prepare strategically for 2025.

Most Effective Ways to Build Needed Skill Capacity38

When asked what has been most successful in building needed skills for their organizations, leaders shared these strategies:

38% Experiential learning such as job rotation and cross-functional projects

42% Hiring new talent with needed skills

45% Rewarding employees who acquire new skills

Companies with Highly Engaged Teams:40

78% See Reduction in Absenteeism

51% Are More Profitable

23% Have Less Turnover

McKinsey & Company found that improving organizational health leads to an 18% increase in earnings (EBITDA).43 This requires leaders to forge strong teams by constantly rebalancing priorities and adjusting to changes to ensure each member receives the right support to keep the team successful. At AppleOne, we understand the value of forging great teams, so we don’t just place candidates; we invest in your long-term success.

Employers Budgeting 3.4% for Salary Increases in 202539

3.4% Canada – All Employees

3.5% Administrative Support

3.1% Customer Service

4.3% Engineering

3.6% Finance

3.8% Tech

Challenges Are Opportunities to Outperform Your Competitors

We are in a challenging time to hire and retain staff. However, this can be good news for companies that can rise to the challenge. When most companies are struggling, opportunities arise for the organizations that can be flexible and creative in their efforts to attract talent.

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What Is Your Top Priority?

Since 1964 we have helped thousands of employers achieve their workforce productivity goals. Please use our Leadership Priority Finder to create a personilzed Leadership Priority Kit with custom productivity solutions assembled specifically for you.

Get Your Custom Leadership Priority Kit

Or, explore how we can help employers solve for some of the most common priorities we encounter below.

Attracting Quality Candidates

48% of employers say that failure to find the right workers is the biggest risk to hitting their growth targets7, and 52% of employed workers are NOT actively seeking new opportunities.1

What You Can Do How AppleOne Can Help

Minimizing Time-to-Hire

Job seekers say that a slow hiring process is the top reason they lose interest in a potential employer leading to increased ghosting and the loss of an employer’s preferred candidate.2

What You Can Do How AppleOne Can Help

Improving Engagement/Retention

Four in five Canadian employers are worried about their ability to replace employees who leave in the current competitive labour market.18

What You Can Do How AppleOne Can Help

Optimizing Costs

Labour is often one of the biggest costs of doing business and labour expense is up 4.5% year over year.3

What You Can Do How AppleOne Can Help

Better Agency Partnerships and Customer Service

Customers report 3 times faster hiring and better results when working with AppleOne.8

What You Can Do How AppleOne Can Help