New study from Randstad exposes major changes to agile employment and non-traditional workers by 2025
TORONTO, April 18, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadian employers are challenging the established norms of the country's workforce and are already hiring a broad variety of non-traditional workers (i.e. contract, consultant, remote or freelance), a trend that is likely to accelerate over the next decade fundamentally changing the nature of employment in Canada, according to a new study.
Today, Randstad Canada – the Canadian leader for staffing, recruitment and HR services – released the Workforce 2025 report http://content.randstad.ca/hubfs/workforce2025/Workforce-2025-Randstad-Part1.pdf – a first-of-its-kind study involving nearly 1,300 employees and more than 500 HR and c-suite executives across Canada which revealed that non-traditional workers currently make up 20% to 30% of the workforce. In fact, a statistic that is expected to increase in the next decade.
"Canadians, and especially millennials, are re-thinking their approach to employment, which is changing the way that employers look to fill their staffing needs," said Marc-Étienne Julien, CEO of Randstad Canada. "New technologies and new attitudes towards employment are having a profound effect on how the workforce will look in 2025. This shift in thinking and the willingness of young Canadians to eschew the traditional nine-to-five for non-traditional roles will dramatically change the makeup of the workforce over the next decade."
Forward Thinking Required to Fuel New Model
Workforce agility represents a change in staffing models that features non-traditional workers. Such a model allows an organization to hire on an as-needed/on-demand, temporary basis to fulfill short or long-term contracts that fill skills gaps. These are not the 'temps' of the past; instead, they range from blue collar and light industrial, to highly skilled IT, engineering, accounting and HR professionals.
What's more, nearly 80% of employees who work as temporary or freelance workers said they are just as loyal as they would be if they were full time – which illustrates that employers don't need to fear the agile workforce, and that they can embrace these tenets to build their business without having to worry about losing top talent.
Naysayers vs. Adopters of Agile Work
The majority of employees – sixty two percent - believe that employers should be more open to flexible work arrangements and that this type of employment should be secondary to the skills and results brought by the employee. Employers who have adopted the agile workforce have a different outlook on non-traditional workers. Cost reduction is the most frequently cited reason for using a flexible staffing model, followed by:
- 21% of employers believe a flexible staffing model helps improve operational performance
- 15% of employers believe working with a staffing/recruiting partner gives better access to highly-skilled knowledge workers than trying to hire full-time workers
The majority of employees – sixty seven percent -, who have adopted the agile work model choose non-traditional work for reasons of flexibility and control, followed by:
- 55% feel they have more control over their career
- 30% have a choice of projects and work
The Future for Canadian Workers Opting for Agile Work
Many of the hesitations Canadians have about agile employment are disappearing, with 85% of employers agreeing that by 2025, their organizations will be committed to building an agile workforce.
At the same time, 84% of employers agree that in order to build an agile workforce, organizations will need to rely on staffing and recruitment partners to provide guidance, while 36% of employees believe current market trends have made non-traditional work more interesting. The Workplace 2025 study also uncovered the top benefits of an agile work model for the employers:
- 36% feel they are better equipped to meet changing customer demands and needs
- 34% believe having access to a wider range of specialized talent and skills will drive innovation and success
If organizations wish to remain competitive and cost-efficient, they need to embrace an employment model that is flexible and adaptable.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the report's findings visit: http://content.randstad.ca/hubfs/workforce2025/Workforce-2025-Randstad-Part1.pdf
Survey Methodology
The Workforce 2025 study was conducted by Research Now on behalf of Randstad Canada between July 27th, 2016 and August 29th, 2016. A total of 1,799 surveys were completed online, including a total of 1,295 surveys among employees and 504 surveys among employers. The sample for this study targeted Canadians.
About Randstad
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 recruiting experts, we are shaping the Canadian world of work. Visit http://www.randstad.ca/
SOURCE Randstad Canada
For media inquiries, please contact: Hilary Lawton, [email protected], 416.847.1311; In Quebec, please contact: Patricia Archambault, [email protected], 514.710.1044
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