Gender equality: Nordic countries top the list, with Canada learning by example
According to the latest Gender Gap Index report, which assesses the size of the gender inequality gap in four main areas including economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival, Northern European countries continue to lead the way. Iceland, Norway and Finland were first, second and third respectively in the 134-country ranking. Canada moved up five places from 25th in 2009 to 20th in 2010. The climb reflects improvements in closing the wage gap and the higher number of women in ministerial positions—30 this year, vs. 16 in 2009. The lowest-rated countries included Pakistan, Chad and Yemen.
Hiring in 2011: Canadian companies optimistic
According to the Regus Business Tracker, which surveyed the hiring intentions of 10,000 companies in 78 different countries, 41% of Canadian businesses planned to hire new staff during the first quarter of 2011, vs. the global average of 36%. Despite this, Canada was one of the only countries not to feel more optimistic than six months ago, although the unemployment rate edged down to 8% in September, according to Statistics Canada. The study also found that 41% of global companies are still looking to reduce their costs in ways other than layoffs.
Overhaul of ITjob.ca
Job site ITjob.ca is launching its new version and at the same time changing its name to . Its layout has been streamlined and updated, and new functionalities have been added, such as simplified access to job ad categories and the possibility of tracking job ads on social networks. , launched in 2004 by jobWings Careers, is dedicated to computer and information technology jobs. It currently has 250 job postings across Canada. “Over the past few months, we have seen an impressive catch-up increase in job ads for computer and information technology professionals,” jobWings President Manuel Francisci observes. “Projects have taken off, and along with them, competition for the best talent.”
New version of Grenier aux Nouvelles
Grenier aux Nouvelles launched a new version of its website on Tuesday, October 5, after a year of intensive work to improve its ergonomics. The job section has been simplified to help users find what they’re looking for more easily, and the News section, which reports on the world of advertising, has been reviewed. The entire site has been streamlined for easier navigation. The newsletter has also been improved to make it more appealing to read. The first mailing of the revamped newsletter was Saturday, October 9. Grenier aux Nouvelles invites visitors to the new site to give their feedback on Facebook and Twitter. Comments received to date have been very positive. Users found that the old version of the site was outdated and needed to be overhauled.
Social networks: added value for companies
Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are gaining momentum in the corporate world. According to a Harris/Decima pool on behalf of BMO, 75% of Canadian entrepreneur users of social media see a benefit in it for their companies. Among the firms polled, 30% use social networks to find new ideas or get suggestions, 30% to promote their brand or their reputation and 20% to sell products. The telephone poll was conducted in May 2010 with 427 Canadian firms of 50 to 499 employees.
Toronto the lowest-risk city in the world for employers in terms of recruiting
A first-of-its kind global study found Toronto to be the city with the lowest risk in the world for recruiting, employing and relocating employees. These conclusions were reached by analyzing data on demographics, education, employment practices and government regulations in 90 cities worldwide. Canadian cities fared very well overall, with Montreal coming in fifth, after New York, Singapore, and London. The main reasons cited are Canada’s low corruption, employment equity, benefits, and the high quality and broad accessibility of training facilities.
Work main cause of U.S. depression
Nearly one in 10 Americans is depressed, and one in 30 meets the criteria for severe depression, according to a recent study by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control. Of 235,000 adults polled throughout the U.S., 9% met the criteria for depression and 3.4% for severe depression. In a country whose unemployment rate is 9.6%, the lack of jobs was cited as the main source of malaise. Among those who said they couldn’t work (e.g. because of illness or disability), 22% suffered from severe depression, as did 10% of unemployed people. The survey also found that people who had not completed high school suffered more major depression (6.5%) than those who had spent at least some time at university (2.5%).
Working abroad is increasingly popular
Expatriation is increasingly popular with employees, for the reason that working abroad in a major “emerging market” is seen as necessary for climbing the corporate ladder, according to 80% of the 418 executives polled by Regus and The Economist Intelligence Unit as part of the “Up or out: Next moves for the modern expatriate” survey. The study also revealed that the recession held back international postings. While 39% of the companies polled planned to increase their foreign workforce within five years, only 13% had done so in the last two years. Expatriate conditions have also been adjusted downward, in line with local markets.
November 3, Take our Kids to Work 2010
This year, “Take Our Kids to Work” day falls on November 3. This national program, organized across Canada by The Learning Partnership organization, enables young people to spend a day at work with a parent, adult friend or volunteer host. Grade 9/secondary 3 students will thus get the opportunity to discover more than 75,000 work environments. Since its creation, the initiative, which is going on its 16th year, has allowed 1.7 million young people to explore different jobs while finding out about potential professional orientations.