Across the country, 45% of small business owners see the lack of skilled workers as an obstacle. (Photo: 123RF)
MONTREAL — Hiring plans for Canadian entrepreneurs are on the decline, according to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), suggesting a possible economic slowdown. However, the trend is less pronounced in Quebec, where labor shortages are greater.
Only 18% of respondents plan to hire staff in the next three to four months. This compares to 22% in May 2023.
“Summer is generally a time when hiring people in seasonal sectors is more important,” stresses CFIB Economics Director Andreea Bourgeois in an interview. Summer is a busy season for hospital services or leisure activities.”
In Quebec, labor demand is more stable, while 26% of respondents say they will hire new staff. Additionally, 54% of Quebec entrepreneurs still believe that a lack of skilled labor is limiting their sales. When looking for unskilled workers, the proportion is 48%.
“Quebec is much more affected by the shortage of skilled and unskilled workers. There was a small improvement (in terms of labor availability) but the situation in Quebec was so much worse that we would have to see much lower numbers to speak of an improvement.
Across the country, 45% of small business owners see the lack of skilled workers as an obstacle. This is the lowest value in two years.
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