Canada's Most Attractive Employer is Canadian Solar, According to Sixth Annual Randstad Award Survey

Planes, trains and automobiles dominate top 20 and West Jet receives Hall of Fame induction

TORONTO, May 5, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadian Solar has been named Canada's Most Attractive Employer, taking home the coveted, sixth-annual Randstad Award at a ceremony in Toronto last night. Randstad Canada, the country's leading staffing, recruitment and HR services company, awarded Canadian Solar with the title, of the 150 Canada's largest companies evaluated, for its commitment to work-life balance and environmental and social awareness.

Randstad also recognized West Jet Airlines last night with a Hall of Fame induction – a special honour granted to organizations who have repeatedly been elected as the most attractive employer three times within five years. West Jet won the Randstad Award in Canada in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

"Canadians have voted and we are pleased to offer our congratulations to Canadian Solar for winning this year's award and demonstrating how important it is for organizations today to connect with the evolving needs and aspirations of job seekers," said Marc-Étienne Julien, CEO of Randstad Canada. "Today, younger generations expect organizations to be socially responsible and make positive contributions to their communities. Clearly, Canadian Solar's commitment to providing sustainable energy solutions and a positive work environment is resonating with Canadians looking for an employer of choice."

The Randstad Award program recognizes Canada's top employer brands through an independent survey of more than 9,500 Canadians between the ages of 18 and 65. This year's top 20 most attractive employers in Canada are:

1.	Canadian Solar Inc.		11.	Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation
2.	IBM Canada Ltd.		12.	Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
3.	Air Canada		13.	The Toronto-Dominion Bank
4.	Indigo Books & Music Inc.		14.	Royal Bank of Canada
5.	Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc.		15.	Molson Coors
6.	Bombardier Inc.		16.	Canadian Pacific Railway Limited
7.	Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada Company		17.	Transat A.T. Inc.
8.	Thomson Reuters Canada Limited		18.	PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
9.	Canadian National Railway Company		19.	Honda Canada Inc.
10.	Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.		20.	Kraft Heinz Company

The top 20 winners in Canada are dominated by transportation manufacturers and providers, proving that planes, trains and automobiles are still critical economic drivers in Canada and very attractive to Canadian job seekers.  

"With organizations competing for skilled workers, our Randstad Award survey is a fantastic resource for employers as it takes the pulse of Canadians' expectations and desires in today's work environment," added Etienne. "It shows organizations that have and continue to score well that they are doing the right things to attract top talent. On the other hand, for companies that have slipped down the rankings, we are able to provide recommendations for improvement."   

In addition to identifying which company Canadians would most want to work for, the survey also revealed what potential employees deem as important attributes when choosing an employer.

Money, security and working atmosphere attract: When choosing an employer, competitive salary & employee benefits (67%) tops the list as the most important factor for Canadian workers. Canadians also value long-term job security (54%), a pleasant working atmosphere (50%), good work-life balance (42%), financial health (35%), interesting job content (34%), a convenient location (34%) and career progression opportunities (33%) as key things they consider when looking for a job.

Most desirable sectors: The Transport & Logistics sector (43%) is the most desirable of all sectors, followed by Motor Vehicle & Parts (41%), High Tech Manufacturing (40%), Finance (39%), Services (39%), Food Trade & FMCG (39%), and Engineering & Construction (37%).

About the Randstad Award: Now in its sixth year in Canada, The Randstad Award study is based on a robust research platform that gives unique insight into the key drivers of talent attraction within Canada and across the world. It helps to identify the most attractive companies in Canada and provides important insights for employers on the trends and priorities affecting Canadians.

Randstad has been working with the globally respected research company, ICMA International, for more than 10 years. In 2000, Randstad and ICMA launched the first Randstad Award program in Belgium to measure 50 employer brands. Based on its success, Randstad had expanded the research program into 25 countries around the world, covering 75% of the global economy. For more information, visit http://www.randstadaward.ca.

Randstad Award Methodology: Based on polls conducted by ICMA Group between September and December 2015, the Randstad Award survey is based on the perceived attractiveness of companies in a specific market. The 150 largest employers per country are selected, each with at least 1,000 employees. The number of respondents on average per market is 9,500. This is a representative sample to measure attractiveness of the 150 companies. Samples are based on national demographics (age, region, gender, education level) with a slight bias towards respondents aged under 40, potential workers being the target audience of the survey. Each sample is comprised of students, employed and unemployed workforce aged between 18 and 65 years old and is a representative sample based on age, region and gender.

About Randstad Canada: Randstad Canada is the Canadian leader for staffing, recruitment and HR Services. As the only fully integrated staffing company in the country, we understand the recruitment needs and demands of employers and job seekers across all levels and industries. Through our insightful knowledge of local markets, employment trends and global network of recruitment experts, we are shaping the Canadian world of work. For more information, visit randstad.ca.

SOURCE Randstad Canada

Sarah Blazak, [email protected], 416.847.1309; Lissa Mangano, [email protected], 416.847.1303; In Quebec, please contact: Marie-Noëlle Morency, [email protected], 514.982.1501; Patricia Archambault, [email protected], 514.710.1044