58 per cent don’t believe in job security
More than eight in 10 (84 per cent) Canadians believe experience weighs harder than education in finding a suitable job, found a recent survey
“Hiring requirements vary widely depending on field or industry, but the perception is that experience will compensate for the lack of a degree or diploma,” says Jan Hein Bax, president of Randstad Canada. “In today’s diversified marketplace, jobseekers need to thoroughly research the companies they want to work for, the roles they are targeting, in order to better understand what combination of experience and qualifications is needed to effectively promote themselves and where they need to fill in the gaps.’’
The importance of gaining experience also reflect in jobseekers’ perception of temporary work, as 82 per cent of Canadians believe temporary work can be a stepping stone to a permanent job, found Randstad's latest Global Workmonitor, which surveys employees in 32 countries around the world (400 respondents per country).
“There were many misconceptions related to temporary work. People used to think that you could only find low-paying jobs, or that it would hurt your prospects of getting hired for the long run,” said Bax.
But the labour market has rapidly evolved, with more Canadian workers choosing to include temporary work as part of their career paths.
“Temporary work offers flexibility and an opportunity to gain valuable exposure in the workforce. You can demonstrate your value to an employer, discover new fields of interest, and get a break in a desirable industry,’’ said Bax.
Recent Canadian labour trend shave also impacted Canadians’ opinions on job security and work tenure. According to the survey, 58 per cent of the Canadians do not believe in job security, a percentage even higher in the United States (71 per cent). Not surprisingly, in countries where the economic situation is problematic like Greece (94 per cent), Hungary (93 per cent) and Spain (91 per cent) people agreed most with the statement “In my country there is no such thing as job security”.
Furthermore, 89 per cent of Canadians think it is better to have a temporary job than no job at all.
“In the context of economic uncertainty, many employers rely on a flexible workforce to remain competitive in the market. For talented candidates, temporary work is a good way to stay employed while keeping their skills sharp,’’ said Bax.
