The Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés is innovating. Every three months, the CRHA will publish the findings of its new prospective survey in a “Flash-emploi” (job flash) newsletter covering major sector trends and HR professionals’ expectations.
While past and current data on jobs and human resources in Quebec is not lacking, there is not much available about the future. What are HR professionals’ expectations for the coming months? How do they see the future job market?
It is to answer these questions that the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés launched a new three-month prospective survey in January. The survey looks at four major indicators: net hires, number of hours worked, recruiting efforts undertaken by companies and salary increases for the coming quarter.
First survey is optimistic
“Le Québec est en mode embauche” (Quebec in a hiring mode) is the title of the first Flash-emploi newsletter (in French only). According to the survey, 45.9% of respondents say their company is hiring new workers, vs. only 3.3% who are contemplating layoffs. The three months to come will also see salary increases, recruiting difficulties and an increase in overtime.
Major sector trends and HR professionals’ expectations will be disclosed every quarter in the newsletter. Florent Francoeur, Order President and CEO explains:
“It’s a very helpful tool for letting Quebec companies know where they stand with respect to the competition. It’s always good to be familiar with how others are doing. For instance, your company doing poorly while the entire sector is brimming with optimism can lead you to question yourself and radically change your strategy.”
Random, revealing consultations
To conduct the new survey, the CRHA called on Analysis Group—economic, financial and strategy consultants. Together, they address the same survey to a pool of 3,000 member firms, with some 485 companies participating in the first one. “The mailing is random. The same companies will not be solicited every time. Only the most senior HR managers are approached, with one survey per company,” specifies Florent Francoeur.
Reliable statistical data
Why implement a quarterly rather than an annual study, as is often done for employment? For Florent Francoeur, it’s all about the relevance of the data, pointing out: “We cannot present reliable numbers over the long term. There are too many factors that can upset the apple cart, such as we are currently seeing with Egypt, for instance. These events have impacts on the global, national and provincial economy. A survey every three months is closer to reality, and the predictions are more likely to materialize.”
The “Flash-emploi” newsletter will come out every three months, via the Order’s website and a press release, at no charge and available to all. “It is part of our contribution to the human resources sector and the Quebec economy in general,” wraps up Florent Francoeur.