Leslie Acuin, CPHR

Canadian employers are pulling back on hiring plans for the second half of 2025, with new survey data showing a notable decline in optimism compared to last year. While 69% of hiring managers still feel positive about their company’s hiring outlook for the remainder of 2025, that figure has dropped from 74% a year ago, according to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals. Meanwhile, nearly half of respondents (46%) now express a negative hiring outlook, up from 38% in June 2024. “These numbers tell a story of employers recalibrating,” said Robert Funk Jr., CEO, President and Chairman of Express Employment International. “They’re still hiring, but with more intention, more strategy and a sharper eye on the future.” Full story here: https://lnkd.in/gydGKe65 #HR #Recruitment #Hiring #Economy #Jobs

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I agree Liz! There is lower mobility and higher friction. The team talked about what we are collectively experiencing in the market. Candidate mobility has slowed, especially among experienced retail leaders. Many are staying with their current employers, seeing more stability and growth opportunities there than in making an external move. As a result, lateral moves are less appealing. Even well-matched roles now require clearer benefits, stronger stability, and a defined path forward to motivate change.

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87% of U.S. employers and 79% of Canadian employers have job security policies in place, including upskilling, flexible staffing, and emergency funds. So why do nearly half of hiring managers in both countries say employees are more worried than last year? Uncover the full story and see what leaders can do differently at the links below: 🔗 https://bit.ly/45Z8MXp (America) 🔗 https://bit.ly/488Ggns (Canada) #AmericaEmployed #CanadaEmployed #EmploymentTrends

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Canadian employers need practical hiring solutions, not just more advice. This new article explores how international talent sourcing can help businesses respond faster to labour shortages, seasonal surges, and hard-to-fill roles. If your business is struggling to hire, this may be worth a read.

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Honored that Hamara Jobs , Quess Corp Limited have partnered with Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC) , for strengthening employment industry transparency, agility and provide meaningful opportunities to millions of India's youth real time. #winningtogether

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Hiring for Ruby on Rails in Canada is a unique challenge. In a recent client conversation, I dug into why this specific skillset remains both pricey and scarce. On the East Coast, the bottleneck is straightforward. Most local universities don’t include Ruby in their core curriculum, focusing instead on JavaScript, Python, and some Java/C++. Beyond Introhive and a few smaller shops, there hasn't been a density of local R&D firms using the framework. Without that local training ground, the talent pool remains narrow, driving up the cost for specialized expertise. Looking nationally, the trend intensifies. Canada is home to some of the largest Rails-based companies in the world, including Shopify, Clio, and Jobber. These organizations have scaled successfully on the framework, but they also set a high market floor for compensation. When smaller firms recruit for Rails, they are directly competing with the mature engineering cultures and high-end salary brackets of industry leaders (to a degree far more extreme than in Go, .NET, etc.). The takeaway? Ruby on Rails offers advantages in speed and efficiency for R&D, but can create distinct challenges in HR and talent.

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Canada's staffing market is bouncing back! The market is on track to hit C$9.3 billion this year, growing by 2%. The standout highlight? An impressive 14% projected rebound in permanent placement, signaling strong hiring confidence ahead. Check out the blog: https://lnkd.in/efxZRmi9 . . #RadiantSystems #CanadaJobs #CanadaHiring #RecruitmentCanada #EconomicOutlook

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Sometimes finding top-tier talent takes shifting in your approach. Seeker Search, a Halifax-based headhunting firm, diverges from traditional recruitment methods by actively targeting elite candidates to support small- and medium-sized businesses across Canada. “Traditional recruitment feels a bit like casting a net. You’re posting a job and waiting to see who bites. Headhunting is more like spearfishing,” says founder Bryan Kidd. “I’m constantly scanning the talent landscape – not for the most visible candidates, but for the right ones. And once I identify them, I move with intention and sincerity." Read the full feature on our blog: https://lnkd.in/ebtpt557

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📊 Hiring or job hunting in Canadian tech in 2026? Let the data lead. Our 2026 Canadian Tech Salary Guide is now live, featuring:   • Salary benchmarks by role and contract type  •Demand across functional areas •Market and hiring trends shaping 2026 QTR hiring data and current market insights help employers stay competitive and professionals make informed decisions. 👉 Download your copy (link in comments) #CanadianTech #TechHiring #CareerGrowth #SalaryGuide

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The EU Pay Transparency Directive is about to bring significant changes to how companies handle pay, equality, and communication. With a 13% gender pay gap still recorded across member states, the focus is shifting from intention to action. Businesses will soon be expected to show how pay decisions are made. At Shireburn, we’ve developed a dedicated Job Evaluation Tool to help employers meet these new requirements with clarity and structure. We didn’t just extend our existing system. This is a tool that supports compliance in a way that’s practical and easy to use. Check out the tool: https://bit.ly/3IE758w

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Overly polished lines that sounds like nobody? Resumes with perfect grammar but zero personality? This table...is the reason recruiters click off your Job Application with the speed of light😔 Yes...AI tools can give you a real edge in Canada's job market. But use them wrong, and wait for a call back👀 Still it's not all bad news for you. There's a technique to using AI for your job search and application that actually works in your favor. But you'll have to find it here👇 https://lnkd.in/dANfAATd

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𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 Across Canada’s private sector, we’re seeing a cautious shift in how companies hire and build teams. In this economy, every headcount decision carries more weight, especially in tech, product, and digital. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄: - Tech job postings are down 28% year-over-year - Applicant volume is up 45% per open role - 73% of Canadian tech leaders are rethinking their AI workforce strategy 𝗜𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁: - There’s no shortage of candidates, but a growing challenge to find the right ones - Internal teams are stretched thin filtering applicants, often missing top performers - AI adoption is rising fast, but most teams feel underprepared to execute At Affinity, we work with hiring managers across Canada to navigate this landscape, whether they’re trying to reduce time-to-hire, explore local and international talent pools, or prepare their org structure for AI integration. If any of this sounds familiar, happy to connect and share what we’re seeing in the market.

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Curious how hiring intentions for Q4 vary across industries in Canada? The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey reveals the #NetEmploymentOutlook by industry sector, with Information Technology leading the way, followed by Transport, Logistics, & Automotive and Financials & Real Estate rounding out the top three. Get the latest #HiringTrends and insights here: https://lnkd.in/gt_PBXdA

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Planning your hiring strategy for the final stretch of 2025? Informed hiring starts with expert insights. Our 2025 IT Talent Guide gives you the data you need to make smarter decisions, highlighting the factors shaping IT skills demand and the rates you can expect across Canada. We break down what the numbers really mean, so you can remove roadblocks and build a hiring strategy that works. Understanding market and industry trends is key to attracting top technology talent. As a proudly Canadian IT talent partner, we help leading organizations navigate these challenges with confidence. #Hiring #IT #Strategy

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