Experts believe that the hiring process in many Canadian organizations across several industries is “broken.”
They stressed the issue has existed for a long time and worsened due to the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This problem persists even amid the country’s job losses and unemployment issues.
Broken Hiring Process
Nita Chhinzer, a human resources professor in Ontario, said many small or medium-sized businesses do not have a human resources department equipped with updated technology. Moreover, these organizations do not have ample knowledge to find the right workers.
She believed that without the right expertise, businesses relied on managers who assumed they were knowledgeable about employment laws and the best practices. Unfortunately, these people may be strong in sales development but ill-equipped to handle hiring responsibilities.
Chhinzer explained that rather than working with a recruitment expert, they are banking on referrals and word of mouth. But when businesses rely on these hiring avenues alone, they end up with a small candidate pool that lacks diversity because applicants tend to recommend other people from similar demographics.
This issue creates a barrier for job seekers relying on different hiring platforms, like career centers, indeed, or LinkedIn.
Instead of letting managers without the right expertise do the hiring, businesses should look for experienced headhunters. They can also work with hiring agencies like SalesForce Search to find applicants for them.
Employers Must Work Harder To Attract Talent
Chhinzer noted that employers have to work harder now to attract and keep their employees. They must offer more appealing benefits aside from compensation. They must promote a positive work environment, allow workers to develop, and be flexible about work.
Sarah McVanel, the founder of Greatness Magnified, believed that employers must put respect and recognition at the forefront of the hiring process.
McVanel said companies should show more appreciation and be responsive to the needs of job applicants. She said employers who do not treat workers like human beings would be less likely to attract the talent they want for their business.
Greatness Magnified is a firm that helps companies retain talent and fight burnout.
Job Losses in June and July
The economy unexpectedly lost thousands of jobs for the second month in a row. Data from Statistics Canada show that the country lost 31,000 jobs last month. In June, the country lost over 40,000 positions and had an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent, which remained unchanged in July.
The survey results contrasted the expected boost of 20,000 positions that analysts predicted for the month.
In the services-producing industry, the wholesale and retail trade contributed the most to the unemployment issue, with 27,000 positions lost. The majority of the job losses in July were in Quebec and Ontario.
Another sector that contributed to the loss is the healthcare industry. The sector saw a 22,000 decline in employment despite the high labour demand in the industry.
These figures highlight the importance of addressing the problems in the hiring process across various sectors. Leaving gaps in the recruitment system could exacerbate the unemployment problem that the country is currently facing.
