New Management Jobs at CMS - Regional Manager in the Wholesale Industry

The continued growth of our clients is evidenced by our new Executive & Management jobs at CMS.

Most notably is this one, a regional manager's position in the wholesale sector. Review the job opening and if you would like more information get in touch with us.

If this position is not a fit for you, review all of our current openings and be sure to follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

More than 90% of C-Level Executives are Expecting Growth in 2011

Toronto based public opinion research firm The Gandalf Group has become a relied upon outlook on the Canadian economy since they began their C-Suite surveys in 2006. The quarterly surveys provide an indication of how Canadian C-Level executives are feeling about the economy. Today they’ve released their 2010 Q4 survey and you can look at it here. The study is great news to those of us following Canada’s expected growth – 92% of executives see growth in 2011.

As we noted in previous blog posts, this comes as no surprise to us at CMS. Our pages of current jobs are getting bigger as our clients are creating more new positions inside their company than they have since 2008. Stay in touch with us through our Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook sites for constant updates on new positions.

Big Growth is coming back to the manufacturing sector - who is prepared?

Yesterday a survey conducted by Canadian PLANT and Grant Thornton LLP said that most manufacturing executives are anticipating growth in the coming years and they have started preparing for it already. This preparation includes workforce planning (including hiring) and investment into process, facility and technological improvements.

The study is called 'Innovation Advantage' and you can read it in its entirety at this link.

At CMS we've seen a tremendous rebound in hiring in the manufacturing sector as evidenced by our current jobs. Most pointedly is an interesting Production Manager job that we are filling in the plastics sector in the interior of BC. Get in touch with us for more information on this or send us an email with your resume to be considered.

Here is a press release on the study;

Business growth ahead for manufacturers

Survey of plant execs reveals confidence moving forward

TORONTO, Dec. 16 /CNW/ - Canadian manufacturers see the economy picking up over the next three years and they are preparing for business expansion with plans to hire employees, invest in process improvements, facilities, technology, training and innovation, according to a survey of senior plant executives.

The 2011 Business Outlook "Innovation Advantage" survey conducted by Canadian PLANT with sponsors Grant Thornton LLP and the Italian Trade Commission, attracted 384 responses from mostly small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are optimistic about the coming year and beyond.

Respondents are concerned about economic conditions, but 64% are expecting more orders next year, 63% say sales dollars will increase, 43% are counting in higher profits and 31% say their prices will go up.

Forty-four per cent of them intend to hire over the next three years, 33% are adding new lines of business, and 33% plan to enter new geographic markets. Forty-six per cent are investing in process improvement next year, 39% in training and 37% in machinery and equipment.

This year's survey looked at competitive issues, including manufacturers' efforts to innovate and improve productivity. Eighty-six per cent of respondents consider innovation to be an important part of their game plan, but when asked to identify their competitive advantages, quality was the top choice (24%) with innovation appearing well down the list (6%).

That's not to suggest manufacturers are not innovating. Spending on research, development and commercialization of new products is growing steadily, with a rate increase of about 10% expected for 2011, but 49% are not taking advantage of the SR&ED tax credit offered by the federal government.

"There is clearly a shared optimistic view amongst most Canadian manufacturers that the industry is in expansion mode," said Jim Menzies, national leader, manufacturing and distribution with Grant Thornton LLP in Toronto. "They also realize that they need to focus on longer term strategy and risk management, however many of them have been focused primarily on ensuring that the company continues to operate in the near term, hampering their ability to truly focus on their longer term objectives."

The survey was conducted in September and October. The margin of error is +/- 4.1% 18 times out of 20.

Which provinces are going to be the hottest in the next two years?

Today both TD and RBC released provincial economic studies pointing to hot growth in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. Most notably, RBC sees Alberta's real GDP growth of 3.4 per cent this year, jumping to 4.3 per cent in 2011 - the fastest growth in the province since 2006. That would be second only to Saskatchewan's 5.3 per cent. TD goes on to say that Alberta will be the leading province by 2012.

In terms of jobs though, Alberta's got it made for the next few years - fuelled primarily by the province's energy sector. A 2.7% increase in jobs is predicted for 2011 - when put in contrast to 2010's paltry 0.5% increase this is good news for Albertans.

And what are the hottest jobs in the coming years? Well, check out our current job openings for a sense of what we're working on now and get in touch with us for more information on upcoming jobs.

New Jobs - Regional Operations Manager Role with a Leading National Distribution Company

CMS has just begun working on a senior level Operations Manager Role covering the Western Canadian territory of a nation-wide distributor.

Do you have what it takes to lead the operational elements of a large distributor? Are you ready to take the next step in your career with a company that can introduce executive advancement at both domestic & international levels?

If so, please review the job ad here and get in touch with us for any further information.

More than three-quarters of businesses are not prepared with succession planning.

A new study from BMO Financial Group says that 82% of business owners in Canada & the US have not selected a successor for their business. Interestingly, more than one-quarter (27%) of Canadian business owners said the recession has not led to any change in their exit plans compared to 63% of their U.S. counterparts. But U.S. business owners plan to exit their businesses later (68 years of age) compared to Canadian business owners (62 years of age).

While 88 per cent of 650 U.S. business owners surveyed described the U.S. economy as being in recession, 45 per cent of 650 Canadian business owners said their country is experiencing a period of growth.

How about your business? CMS has many different services to help you locate a successor - be that through our executive searches or management consulting, get in touch with us to discuss your future!

New Jobs - Check Out Our Newest Job Postings

As the year comes to a close CMS is getting busier and busier with new positions coming almost daily.

Take a look at our new positions in Finance & Insurance as well as Engineering & Environmental. We've also added new Executive & Management and Sales & Marketing jobs.

If you're interested in any of the jobs or you'd like to be considered for future opportunities, please get in touch with us to seend us your resume.

Employment by the sexes - If men are from Mars, Venus is getting bigger!

A study released today by StatsCan says that the economic downturn of '08 & '09 was less severe on women than men. The employment rate for males between '08 & '09 went down 2.9% whereas females lost barely 1% in this time period.

Here is an article in full by StatsCan depicting the employment market between the sexes

Women in Canada: Paid work

1976 to 2009

The employment rate for women with children has been steadily on the rise during the past three decades. In 2009, 72.9% of women with children under the age of 16 living at home were employed, nearly twice the rate of 39.1% recorded in 1976.

This analysis of paid work among women shows considerable change in their labour force activity during this period. In general, the employment rate for women has followed an upward trend since 1976, when it was 41.9%, although women are still less likely to be employed than men. In 2009, about 8.1 million women had a paid job in Canada. This represents an employment rate of 58.3% compared with 65.2% for men.

The employment rate for women with children under the age of 3 was 64.4% in 2009, more than double the proportion of 27.6% in 1976. Additionally, 11.9% of working women were self-employed in 2009, up from 8.6% in 1976.

While nearly three-quarters of employed women worked full time in 2009, women were more likely than men to work part time.

The majority of employed women continue to work in occupations in which they have been traditionally concentrated. However, they have increased their representation in several professional fields such as business and finance.

Economic downturn less severe on women

The impact of the recent economic downturn was less severe on women than on men.

Between 2008 and 2009, the employment rate for men fell 2.9 percentage points to 65.2%. This repeated a pattern set in the recessions of the early 1980s and 1990s.

Note to readers

This release is based on the first section in what will be the latest edition of the publication Women in Canada, published periodically by Statistics Canada.

This chapter analyzes developments in the labour force activity of women in Canada between 1976 and 2009, using data from the Labour Force Survey.

Later in December 2010, the chapter on the economic well-being of women will be released. Other chapters scheduled for release in 2011 will examine demographic, education, health and living arrangements. Chapters related to Aboriginal women, immigrant women, women with activity limitations and visible minority women will also be published.

In contrast, the employment rate for women declined by only one percentage point in 2009, after reaching an historic high of 59.3% in 2008.

In 2009, the number of unemployed women rose to 608,000, compared with 487,000 in 2008 and 476,000 in 2007. The unemployment rate for women increased to 7.0% in 2009, the highest since 2003. But among men, it reached 9.4%, the highest rate since 1996.

Men were hit harder by the downturn because the industries hardest hit by employment losses in 2009 were male-dominated. They included those in the goods-producing sector, mainly manufacturing, construction and natural resources.

In contrast, more women worked in service industries, such as health care and social assistance, and educational services, where employment continued to grow.

More employed mothers

The employment rate among women with children has risen sharply over the past three decades. However, they are still less likely to be employed than women without children.

In 2009, 72.9% of women with children under 16 living at home were part of the employed workforce, compared with 80.4% of women under the age of 55 without children.

There has been steady growth in labour force participation among women with young children. In 2009, 64.4% of women with children under the age of 3 were employed, more than double the proportion of 27.6% in 1976.

Female lone parents are less likely to be employed than mothers in two-parent families. In 2009, 68.9% of female lone parents with children under the age of 16 living at home were employed, compared with 73.8% of their counterparts in two-parent families.

This represents a major shift from the late 1970s, when female lone parents were more likely to be employed than mothers with partners.

Women more likely to work part time than men

Nearly 7 out of 10 part-time workers in 2009 were women, a proportion that has changed little over the past three decades.

In 2009, 2.2 million women worked part time, that is, fewer than 30 hours a week at their main job. The share of women working part time rose from 23.6% in 1976 to 26.9% in 2009. In comparison, the rate for men in 2009 was 11.9%, less than half that of women, although it more than doubled from 1976.

In addition, a growing number of women are self-employed. In 2009, nearly 1 million women, or 11.9% of all those with jobs, were self-employed, up from 8.6% in 1976.

Self-employment has increased about as fast among women as it has among men in the past two decades, although women are still less likely than men to be self-employed.

Women accounted for 35.5% of all self-employed workers in 2009, up from 31.2% in 1990 and 26.3% in 1976.

Women still concentrated in traditional female occupations

The majority of employed women continue to work in occupations in which they have been traditionally concentrated, although the proportion has declined slowly over the past two decades.

In 2009, 67.0% of employed women worked in teaching, nursing and related health occupations, clerical or other administrative positions, or sales and service occupations. In contrast, 31.0% of employed men worked in these fields.

At the same time, women have increased their representation in several professional fields. For example, they comprised 51.2% of business and financial professionals in 2009, up from 38.3% in 1987. The share of women employed has gone up in diagnostic and treating positions in medicine and related health professions.

Women made up 55.2% of doctors, dentists and other health occupations in 2009, as well as 72.5% of professionals employed in social sciences or religion.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3701.

The chapter "Paid work" is now available in Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report, 1976 to 2009, sixth edition (89-503-X, free), from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (613-951-5979; sasd-dssea@statcan.gc.ca), Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division.

Almost half of Canadian companies are struck by employee fraud - is yours?

A study released today by SAS/Leger Marketing survey of more than 1,000 Canadian executives said that 47% of executives had been defrauded by their employees.

More than two thirds of fraudsters were tracked down after the fraud but only one in six cases were companies able to identify the activity and put a stop to it before it happened.

What can you do to avoid such activity? CMS' Management Consulting can assess your employees through retention studies and a myriad of other consulting services. Get in touch with us for more information on this and our other services.

Here's the study in full released by SAS Canada and Leger Marketing.

Half of large Canadian companies hit by employee fraud attempts, execs say: study

Mid-sized companies safer, but less successful at catching fraudsters

TORONTO, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - Forty-eight per cent of executives at large Canadian companies said that employees have attempted to defraud their organization, while only 35 per cent of mid-sized company execs said they, too, face internal fraud issues. Regardless of company size, employees who attempt fraud were very likely to be caught, according to the findings of a SAS/Leger Marketing survey of more than 1,000 Canadian executives conducted earlier this year.

Only four per cent of executives at large companies said employees who committed fraud escaped being caught, whereas ten per cent of those fraudsters at mid-sized companies eluded detection, according to executives. More than two-thirds of the fraudsters were tracked down after the fraud occurred (74 per cent and 69 per cent respectively for large and mid-sized companies). In approximately one in six cases (14 per cent at large companies, 16 per cent at mid-sized) the company identified the fraud attempt and stopped it before it could occur.

"There needs to be a paradigm shift where the focus is on catching fraud before it occurs rather than tracking it down after," said Wes Gill, Executive Lead of Enterprise Risk Management with SAS Canada. "While diligence and perseverance help, technology is the key. Business analytics software can identify fraud as it is evolving, helping companies identify it before it has actually occurred. Would you rather round up the horses after they've left the barn or prevent them leaving in the first place?"

Customer fraud a concern too
Customer fraud, which could include everything from insurance scams to credit card and mortgage fraud, was also a bigger concern for large companies, with 47 per cent of executives saying they had been affected, versus 30 per cent for mid-sized companies. At large companies, seven per cent of customer fraudsters were not caught versus 12 per cent at mid-sized companies, according to the executives.

The financial, food/retail, and government sectors were the biggest victims of customer fraud attempts, with 60 per cent of food and retail executives, 59 per cent of finance executives, and 44 per cent of government executives saying they have been impacted by customer fraud. The lowest incidences were in the professional consulting, real estate and legal professions, with 16 per cent saying they have faced customer fraud.

• 30 per cent of finance companies often use business analytics software to help detect fraud
• 25 per cent of retail and food companies often use business analytics software to help detect fraud
• Only eight per cent of government executives said their organization often uses business analytics software to help detect fraud

"As the survey results indicate, certain industries are more affected by fraudulent activities than others," Gill said. "Though many organizations can benefit from the use of business analytics to detect fraud, the one concern I have from these results is that government, third highest in terms of customer fraud attempts and second highest in terms of employee fraud attempts, is not a big user of technology designed to detect fraud."

While there was not a lot of variance nationally when it came to customer fraud attempts (the national average was 39 per cent), Alberta was quite a bit higher than Quebec (48 per cent versus 36 per cent). When it came to internal fraud attempts, B.C. and Quebec were above Ontario, with 49 and 46 per cent respectively saying they had been impacted by employee fraud versus 37 per cent for Ontario. The national average was 42 per cent.

Stats at a glance
The survey also revealed that:

• 51 per cent of mid-sized companies tracked down the occurrence of customer fraud after it occurred
• 47 per cent at large companies tracked down the occurrence customer fraud after it occurred
• 31 per cent of all customer fraud was identified before it could occur (the same for both large and mid-sized companies)
• 55 per cent of food and retails executives said an employee had attempted to defraud their company
• 46 per cent of both government and finance executives said they had been hit by employee fraud attempts
• The lowest for employee fraud were the professional consulting, real estate and legal professions, with 23 per cent saying they had been victim of employee fraud attempts

About the Survey
This online comprehensive national executive survey was conducted for SAS Canada by Leger Marketing between March 3^rd and March 26^th, 2010, during National Fraud Prevention Month, with a representative sample of 1,022 senior-level business decision makers. This is the fourth and final installment based on the survey results. This method simulates a probability sample which would yield a maximum margin of error of +/-3.1%, 19 times out of 20.

About SAS
SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Through innovative solutions delivered within an integrated framework, SAS helps customers at more than 45,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. Since 1976 SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW^®.

The Canadian subsidiary of SAS has been in operation for 22 years. Headquartered in Toronto, SAS employs 263 people across the country at its Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City and Montréal offices. www.sas.com

The numbers are in and the numbers are good - Canada's Labour Force Survey for November

StatsCan released the monthly Labour Force Survey today and while we didn't quite reach Reuters' anticipated 18,000 new jobs, Canada did add about 15,000.

The number of youths participating in the employment market has lowered though which put the unemployment rate below Reuters' estimated 7.9% at 7.6%. This is the lowest unemployment rate in almost two years, since January 2009.

StatsCan also said that the number of part-time jobs has grown by 4% year-to-year since November '09 while full-time employment has risen by 1.4%.

Here is the article in full from the StatsCan website;

Labour Force Survey

November 2010 (Previous release)

Employment edged up by 15,000 in November. At the same time, there was a notable decline in the number of youths participating in the labour market. As a result, the unemployment rate fell 0.3 percentage points to 7.6%, the lowest since January 2009.

Since November 2009, employment has risen by 318,000 (+1.9%).

In November, part-time gains were partly offset by decreases in full time. Over the past year, part-time employment has grown by 4.0% (+127,000), a faster pace than the 1.4% growth in full time (+192,000).

November's employment gains in health care and social assistance; retail and wholesale trade; and accommodation and food services were mostly offset by declines in manufacturing as well as in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing.

Note to readers

Following the release of final population estimates from each census, a standard revision is applied to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates. The revised estimates are scheduled to be released on Friday, January 28, 2011, and will include the following:

LFS estimates are currently based on the 2001 Census population estimates. These data will be adjusted to reflect 2006 Census population estimates and will be revised back to 1996.

Industry estimates will be reclassified to the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) from the 2002 NAICS and revised back to 1987.

Geography boundaries will be updated to the 2006 Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) rather than the current 2001 SGC. With this change, six new census metropolitan areas (CMAs) will be added and the boundaries of seven existing CMAs will be modified. New CMA tables will be created based on the 2006 census boundaries and will date back to 1996.

Finally, the 2006 National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S) will replace the 2001 NOC-S. This change will not affect the LFS estimates as there were only minor changes to the description of the categories.

Please note that the changes to the estimates will be minor. Rates of unemployment, employment and participation are essentially unchanged, as are key labour market trends.

During the revision, CANSIM data for the LFS will not be available from Friday, January 21 to Thursday, January 27, 2011. For further information on these changes, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca).

LFS estimates are based on a sample, and are therefore subject to sampling variability. Estimates for smaller geographic areas or industries will have more variability. For an explanation of sampling variability of estimates, and how to use standard errors to assess this variability, consult the "Data quality" section of the publication Labour Force Information (71-001-X, free).

Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data, which facilitates comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations.

Ontario was the only province with a notable employment increase in November. Quebec and Manitoba had employment declines in the month, while the other provinces showed little change.

While employment for youths aged 15 to 24 was unchanged, their unemployment levels fell. This pushed the youth unemployment rate down 1.4 percentage points to 13.6%.

Gains in some service sectors, decline in manufacturing

In November, health care and social assistance employment rose by 28,000. This industry has seen gains of 120,000 (+6.1%) since November 2009, one of the highest rates of growth of all major industries.

Employment in wholesale and retail trade increased by 26,000. With this increase, employment in this industry is up 57,000 (+2.2%) compared with a year earlier.

Accommodation and food services employment was up 17,000 in November, following five months of little change.

Manufacturing employment fell by 29,000 in November, bringing employment in this industry to 1.73 million, or 47,000 (-2.6%) below its level of 12 months earlier.

With this decline, manufacturing's share of total employment continued its long-term downward trend, reaching 10% in November, the lowest since comparable data became available in 1976. This was down from 15% in the early 2000s and 19% in 1976.

Employment decreased by 23,000 in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing. Compared with November 2009, levels were down 43,000 (-3.8%).

Although construction was little changed in November, employment in this industry has been on an upward trend for more than a year, with gains of 89,000 (+7.5%) over the past 12 months. Employment growth in construction was the second fastest of all the major industry groups over the past year, behind natural resources (+7.9%).

While there was employment growth in the public sector in November, there was little change among private sector employees and the self-employed. Over the previous 12 months, employment growth in the public sector (+3.1% or 109,000) led that of the private sector (+2.5% or 266,000). Over the same period, self-employment fell by 2.1% (-56,000).

Employment gains in Ontario

Ontario's employment level rose by 31,000 in November, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.4 percentage points to 8.2%, the lowest since January 2009. With November's employment increase, the number of workers in Ontario grew by 2.1% (+140,000) from a year earlier, just above the national growth rate of 1.9%.

In November, employment in Quebec edged down by 14,000. Despite this decline, Quebec employment was up 78,000 (+2.0%) from a year earlier. The unemployment rate was 7.9% in November.

Manitoba's employment level fell by 3,000 in November, partly dampening its 12-month gain of 13,000 (+2.1%). The unemployment rate, at 5.1%, remained the lowest of all provinces.

While employment was unchanged in Alberta, a decline in the number of people looking for work pushed the unemployment rate down 0.4 percentage points to 5.6%.

Employment in British Columbia was little changed in November. With fewer people searching for work, the unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percentage points to 6.9%.

Fewer youths looking for work

While employment among youths was unchanged in November, there were fewer youths looking for work. As a result, their unemployment rate fell 1.4 percentage points to 13.6%. Since June, the youth participation rate has declined 2.1 percentage points to 63.2% in November, the lowest since August 1999.

Labour market conditions were little changed among other demographic groups in November.

Available on CANSIM: tables 282-0001 to 282-0042, 282-0047 to 282-0064 and 282-0069 to 282-0108.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3701.

A more detailed summary, Labour Force Information (71-001-X, free) is now available online for the week ending November 13. From the Key resource module of our website under Publications, choose All subjects, then Labour. LAN and bulk prices are available on request. The DVD-ROM Labour Force Historical Review, 2009 (71F0004X, $209), is now available. See How to order products.

Data tables are also now available online. From the Subject module of our website, choose Labour.

The next release of the Labour Force Survey will be on January 7.

For general information, or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Jason Gilmore (613-951-7118; jason.gilmore@statcan.gc.ca) or Lahouaria Yssaad (613-951-0627; lahouaria.yssaad@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.

With 'friends' like these... Facebook Firings.

Are you reading this on our Facebook page? Are you reading this work? Are you Facebook friends with your boss? You'd better be careful!

Cases of disputed dismissal because of someone's actions aren't news - they've been happening since the dawn of the Internet. But as social media becomes more & more popular and your network of 'friends' becomes larger & larger, you've really got to be careful of what you say.

Take for instance a recent British Columbia Labour Board's ruling upholding the dismissal of two employees at a car detailing company for making remarks about their boss. The Labour Board found that these comments were creating a negative and hostile work environment and even constituted insubordination.

The catch is that their boss was among their friends who received live status updates - on his mobile phone.

In the US it's a different story because Facebook notices are protected under The First Amendment?

So the moral of the story is, the next time you have a blow-out at work and take out your mobile phone to update your Facebook status, think twice about who's going to read it! Toronto employment lawyer, Daniel Lublin says this is why not to add your manager as a friend.

The Labour Survey is to be released on Friday - what are the expectations?

Statistics Canada will release the labour survey this Friday December 3 for the month of November and the predictions are strong.

Reuters is predicting job gains of 18,000 - a sharp rise from October's overall gains of 3,000. While the unemployment rate is expected to stay higher than hoped at 7.9%, this reflects a greater number of people reentering the job-hunt and can be seen as an overall improvement in confidence.

Here's a link to the Reuters Preview in full.

Contract workers are in high demand in Canada & CMS can help.

A study released today by Statistics Canada shows that the demand for contract employees has risen by more than 50% in contrast to the previous year. The study's author goes on to clearly state “contract employment has been the main source of growth in temporary work,” and it represents a facet of growth overall in the Canada's rebound from the economical uncertainties of 2008/09.

Interestingly, 1 in 8 employees were employed on a temporary basis in 2009.

Employers are relying more & more on contract workers because of the flexibility they offer as demand for output waxes & wains. CMS are well versed in contract placements and we encourage you to review our Employers web page for more information on how we can fill your work-force demands.

Here is the study in full by Statistics Canada.

Study: Temporary employment in the downturn

1997 to 2009

In 2009, 1.8 million Canadians worked in some type of temporary job. Temporary work accounted for 12.5% of paid employment, a slight decrease from its peak of 13.2% in 2005.

After growing rapidly from 1997 to 2005, the temporary employment rate slowed in 2006. The number of temporary jobs declined a year before the downturn in total employment.

On average, these temporary jobs pay lower wages and provide fewer benefits than permanent positions. In addition, they are non-unionized and part time more often. Although temporary jobs are typically viewed as a uniform group, trends in temporary employment as well as their underlying issues vary widely depending on the type of job.

In 2009, contract positions accounted for just over one-half (52%) of temporary jobs, representing nearly 1 million workers. The other half was equally composed of seasonal and casual workers.

Since 1997, contract jobs have grown at a faster pace than other types of temporary employment. Contract jobs increased by more than 3% between 2005 and 2009, despite the overall employment downturn in 2008.

Professionals make up a large proportion of contract employees. On average, contract workers are more educated and slightly younger than permanent workers. Contract jobs are concentrated in health, education and public administration, industries that were relatively untouched by the recent economic slowdown.

From 2005 to 2009, seasonal employment fell by more than 3%. The number of seasonal jobs fell in traditionally seasonal industries like fishing and forestry, as well as in manufacturing and accommodation and food services.

In 2009, construction remained the top industry for seasonal employment, followed by information and cultural industries and the primary sector.

Casual jobs are those whose hours vary according to the demands of the employer. They are found mainly in retail and wholesale trade, education, health care, and the accommodation and food services industries.

Casual employment fell by more than 10% between 2005 and 2009, with losses affecting most sectors. Nearly one-half (47%) of casual workers were under 25 years of age, and one-quarter of them were students.

The hourly wage gap between temporary and permanent positions varied from 14% for contract jobs to nearly 34% for seasonal and casual positions. This gap remained constant both in periods of growth and slowdown.

Part of the gap was due to the relative youth of temporary workers, in general, and lower average education levels of seasonal and casual workers. After adjusting for such differences, the gap was much smaller. It ranged from 5% to 21%, depending on sex and the type of temporary job.

Characteristics such as unionization, work patterns and company size explained another portion of the gap. After these factors were taken into account, the gap for casual workers was nearly the same as the gap for all other temporary workers.

Temporary workers also work fewer hours, on average, which increases the weekly earnings gap with permanent employees.

Note: The article "Temporary employment in the downturn" is based on the Labour Force Survey. It examines temporary employment, its main components (seasonal, contract and casual jobs) and how they performed during the most recent employment slowdown. A brief profile of workers in temporary jobs is also provided, as well as characteristics of their jobs. Finally, the earnings gap between temporary and permanent positions is examined.

Monthly employment earnings for September more than 4% better than last year's

StatsCan released their monthly earning charts today and announced that earnings have risen 4.3% from last September. This is the second month that wages rose by more than 4% and proves to be yet another great sign of economic rebound in Canada. To put this in contrast, the year over year different for the better part of 2009 was -2%!

Average weekly earning grew to $864.13.

This leap not only indicates employers are paying more these days, it also reflects that employees are working more. The increase in time worked between September '10 and '09 was nearly 1%.

Newfoundland, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec all realized growth above the national average this month.

How about your earnings? Have you seen a raise that's suitable for you? If not, maybe it is time to see all of the jobs across Canada that we are presently filling. Get in touch with us for more information and if you don't see anything appealing, follow us on Twitter to keep plugged into to our current openings.

Here is the article in full from Statistics Canada;

Payroll employment, earnings and hours

Between September 2009 and September 2010, average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees rose 4.3% to $864.13. This was the second consecutive month with year-over-year growth over 4.0%.

Some of the weekly earnings growth is attributable to an increase in the number of hours worked per week between September 2009 and September of 2010 (+0.9%). The remainder of the increase reflects a number of other factors, including changes in the composition of employment by industry, changes in occupations within industry, job experience, as well as wage growth.

The pace of growth in earnings has been increasing in recent months. September marked the sixth consecutive month in which the year-over-year increase surpassed 3.0%. In contrast, year-over-year growth was below 2.0% for most of 2009.

Average weekly earnings increased in most provinces from September 2009 to September 2010. Growth was above the national average in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec.

Note to readers

The Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (SEPH) is a business census of non-farm payroll employees. Its key objective is to provide a monthly portrait of the level of earnings, the number of jobs and hours worked by detailed industry at the national, provincial and territorial level.

Statistics Canada also produces employment estimates from its monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS is a household survey whose main objective is to divide the working-age population into three mutually exclusive classifications — the employed (including the self-employed), unemployed and not in the labour force. This survey is the official source for the unemployment rate and collects data on the socio-demographic characteristics of all those in the labour market.

As a result of these conceptual and methodological differences, estimates of changes from SEPH and LFS do differ from time to time. However, the trends in the data are quite similar.

Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data, which facilitates comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations.

All earnings data include overtime pay and exclude businesses which could not be classified to a North American Industrial Classification System code.

Average weekly earnings are derived by dividing total weekly earnings by the number of employees.

Changes in average earnings can be influenced by a number of factors. Changes in the level of earnings, the number of payroll employees, and the number of hours worked can have an impact. Other factors could include compositional changes over time, such as changes in the proportions of full-time and part-time work; proportions of casual, senior and junior employees; the occupational distribution within and across industries; and in the distribution of employment between industries. Such effects may apply differently within different provinces and territories, and over time.

Because earnings can be influenced by any number of these factors, it is sometimes the case where earnings are moving in one direction and payroll employment is going the opposite direction (either at the aggregate level, by sector or industry).

Year-over-year growth was slowest in Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, while earnings declined slightly in New Brunswick.

Average weekly earnings by industry

Among Canada's largest industrial sectors, growth in average weekly earnings from September 2009 to September 2010 was above the national average of 4.3% in wholesale trade; accommodation and food services; administrative and support services; educational services; and professional, scientific and technical services. The slowest growth in earnings occurred in retail trade.

In the wholesale trade sector, average weekly earnings have been steadily increasing, reaching $1,031.92 in September. This was an 8.9% increase from September 2009, when earnings hit the most recent low.

Among the larger wholesale industries, the growth in earnings during this one-year period was strongest in computer and communications equipment and supplies (+15.2%); construction, forestry, mining, and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies (+13.3%); and food wholesalers (+13.2%).

Non-farm payroll employment by industry

In September, non-farm payroll employment edged up 0.1% (+14,100) from August, following a similar percentage increase the month before. Since September 2009, the number of payroll employees has increased by 1.6% (+236,200).

In the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector, the number of workers on payroll rose by 1.7% (+3,200) in September, the eighth consecutive monthly increase. Most of September's increase came from mining for oil and gas. Since September 2009, payroll employment in this sector has increased by 11.6% (+20,000). Payroll jobs rose in all industries in this sector during the year, led by support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction (+12,800).

In public administration, payroll employment increased by 0.7% (+7,500) in September, with gains in the federal, provincial and municipal administration. Despite the increase, payroll jobs in public administration remained 0.2% below the level in September 2009.

The number of jobs in health care and social assistance increased by 0.4% (+5,900) from August. The gains were mainly in individual and family services and general medical and surgical hospitals. Since September 2009, payroll employment in this sector has increased by 2.7% (+43,200), making it one of the top contributors to total growth over the year.

In manufacturing, payroll jobs increased by 0.4% in September (+5,600), following declines in the previous two months. Most of September's gains were in seafood product preparation and packaging; motor vehicle; and motor vehicle parts manufacturing. Since September 2009, total factory jobs have risen by 0.7% (+10,900), with most of the increases in early 2010.

In the construction sector, payroll employment has changed little since April of this year. However, compared with September 2009, jobs in this sector have risen by 3.2% (+25,600).

Hours worked and average hours worked by hourly and salaried employees

Total hours worked by hourly and salaried employees were down by 0.3% in September, the second consecutive monthly decline. Despite these decreases, total hours were up 2.1% over the past 12 months.

Average weekly hours worked by hourly and salaried employees amounted to 32.9 hours in September. This was unchanged from the previous month but up from 32.6 hours in September 2009.

Available on CANSIM: tables 281-0023 to 281-0039 and 281-0041 to 281-0046.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2612.

Detailed industry data, data by size of enterprise based on employment, and other labour market indicators will be available soon in the monthly publication Employment, Earnings and Hours (72-002-X, free).

Data on payroll employment, earnings and hours for October will be released on December 23.

For more information, or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about revisions, concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Jeannine Usalcas (613-951-4720), Labour Statistics Division.

Canadian Staffing Index shows Higher Gains in October

ACSESS, the of Association Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services released their monthly Staffing Index for October today and shows further gains in the staffing industry. This is the index' third straight month of gains and shows a 29% improvement over May of 2009.

This is no surprise to us here at CMS as we've seen huge growth in our Current Job Opportunities - particularly with new Insurance & Finance jobs and Executive & Management positions added just today.

Here's the press release in full from ACSESS from The Canadian News Wire;

October Continues Trend of Recovery

ACSESS Canadian Staffing Index Positive Again

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - The Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services (ACSESS) released the Canadian Staffing Index for October 2010.

The Canadian Staffing Index saw another point gained on its ride to the 100 benchmark set in July 2008. The October reading of 94 was the third month in a row the Index increased and represents a 29 point increase over the May 2009 low of 65.

As predicted by many business analysts our economic recovery will be long and slow. The Canadian Staffing Index for October support ACSESS' belief that the staffing industry is the first to see both positive and negative corrections resulting from economic influences.

Steve Jones, ACSESS President, says "The mere one point growth signifies organizations continue to watch the global economy and are cautious in their hiring strategies. However, it is a trend that has seen us recover 29 points in the last 17 months and ACSESS Members across the country are reporting that they are getting very busy. We continue to believe this Index is an excellent indicator of the state of Canada's labour market."

About the Canadian Staffing Index:

The data collected for the Canadian Staffing Index is the largest sample size ever collected in Canada. An Index value of 94 measures the hours of labour performed by temporary and contract staff in October 2010 compared to the benchmark index of 100 established in July 2008. ACSESS shares this valuable information with the business world as this data is indicative of the current employment landscape and provides future insight to economic development.

About ACSESS

ACSESS is the single voice for promoting best practices and ethical standards for the recruitment, employment and staffing services industry in Canada. For more information visit: www.acsess.org

About Staffing Industry Analysts

Staffing Industry Analysts is the premier research and analysis firm covering temporary employment and the contingent workforce. Known for its independent and objective insights, the company's proprietary research, data, support tools, publications and executive conferences provide a competitive edge to decision-makers who supply and buy temporary staffing. In addition to temporary staffing, Staffing Industry Analysts also covers these related staffing sectors: third party placement, and staff leasing (PEOs). Founded in 1989, the company is headquartered in Los Altos, California. For more information visit: www.staffingindustry.com

For further information:

Media Contact:
Suzanne McInerney, CPC
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Phone 905-826-6869 / Toll Free: 1-888-232-4962
Email: smcinerney@acsess.org

Beware the 'holiday shopping flu' - there's only one prescription!

A study released today by eBay says that nearly half of Canadians are feeling the stress of finding the perfect gift this holiday season and 20% are considering skipping work to find it. An additional 13% say the stress of the holidays distract from their productivity at work.

The study goes on to say that 13% of employees would consider shopping online from their desks at work.

Here's the study from TNS Ncompass;

"Holiday shopping flu" may cause workplace absence, according to new research

Nearly 50 per cent of Canadians buying holiday presents say finding the perfect gift is stressful

TORONTO, Nov. 18 /CNW/ - The pressure to find the perfect gift may cause some Canadians to call in sick this holiday season, according to new research that reveals two-in-10 Canadians have skipped work - or considered it - in order to complete their holiday shopping. Others (13 per cent) are simply distracted by holiday shopping at their job, placing further pressure on their work/life balance.

According to the eBay Canada-sponsored survey, on average, shoppers are on the hunt for 14 perfect presents to give to nine different people this holiday season. Many shoppers are unknowingly increasing their stress level and decreasing their productivity by not going online.

While Canadians are planning to do more of their holiday shopping online this year, many are still stuck in an old-fashioned shopping mall mindset. According to the research, the overwhelming majority of Canadians buying gifts are still shopping during regular store hours, with only nine per cent taking advantage of 24-7 online service by shopping late at night, and even fewer (five per cent) shopping on-the-go with their mobile phone.

"For many, offline holiday shopping isn't retail therapy, it's retail agony," said Kimberly Moffit, a psychotherapist and eBay Canada's holiday counsellor. "Holiday shoppers are likely juggling work, family life, social engagements and holiday activities, and they're constantly feeling like they're running around and running out of time. As a result, they've put themselves in a stressful situation - some are even calling in sick with what we call the 'holiday shopping flu,' - while others admit that holiday shopping distracts them from their job."

"However, Canadians shouldn't give up on finding the perfect gift. Instead, busy shoppers should look for ways to integrate their shopping into their daily routine. It's about picking the right place and the right time. Rather than dashing to the mall at lunch time, shopping from the comfort of your desk is viable option - and certainly more productive and less stressful. The same goes for shopping by mobile phone on your commute home or in the evening - online shoppers are able to tackle their wish list without all of the unnecessary offline stress," says Moffit.

This is good news for Canadians who are shopping for the perfect gifts.

"Ferreting out the perfect gift amidst the chaos of busy malls and bustling Main Street is a pulse-elevating stress test nobody needs to take," says Tommy Smythe, one of Canada's top home décor designers and eBay's holiday gift giving expert. "Shopping online - from a computer or a mobile phone - is a stress-free way to save time and find unique, hard-to-find, or rare items that really show friends and family how much you care."

The survey also uncovered some additional interesting information about Canadians buying holiday presents:

• Thirteen per cent would consider doing their holiday shopping online at work.
• Twenty-one per cent have at least considered calling in sick to go holiday shopping.
• Six per cent have actually called in sick to do their holiday shopping.
• Holiday shopping distracts 20 per cent of Canadians from spending time with friends and family. Spending time exercising and participating in social activities also suffers during the holiday shopping season.
• More Canadians are going online to do their holiday shopping, with nearly three in ten increasing their shopping online this year.
• Saving time, avoiding crowds, and finding the best price, are also motivating Canadians to head online.

Canadians looking for the perfect gift should visit www.ebay.ca to get started. For on-the-go shopping, Canadians can also download eBay mobile apps for their iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or Windows Phone 7 device.

About the survey
TNS Ncompass Online Omnibus, conducted an online omnibus survey, interviewing 1079 adults aged 16 - 64. Interviewing was conducted between, 30th September and 4^th October 2010. Sample was weighted to represent the adult population of Canada aged 16-64.

About eBay
Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. connects millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, and PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments. We also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, and eBay Classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. In Canada, eBay was visited by nearly 6.9 million Canadians in August 2010. (comScore Media Metrix).

You know we're on the right track when the food service industry returns to pre-recession levels!

A new report released today by the Conference Board of Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada said that Canada’s food, retail and accommodations sectors are expected to serve up a 20% jump in profits this year. This will put Canada's food service industry at pre-recession levels and marks yet another crown of achievement in Canada's growth over the past year.

The study credits Canada's creation of more than 375K jobs over the past 12 months for the growth in the service sector. It goes on to say that restaurants and the food service sector were the worst hit of the service industries, however this sector has recovered remarkably well. More patrons combined with higher prices will allow industry profits to return to their pre-recession peak of $1.3 billion this year, the report said.

Here's the report in full from the Conference Board of Canada;

SERVICE INDUSTRIES PROFITS BOUNCE BACK IN 2010 THANKS TO STRONG JOB CREATION DURING FIRST HALF OF YEAR

www.conferenceboard.ca

OTTAWA, Nov. 22 /CNW/ - Profits in 2010 will rebound by more than 20 per cent in the food services, retail, and accommodation industries, according to the Autumn 2010 edition of the Canadian Industrial Profile Service.

The Autumn edition of the Canadian Industrial Profile Service, published by The Conference Board of Canada in collaboration with Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), provides a five-year (2010-2014) production, revenue, cost and profitability forecast for six Canadian industries:

• Accommodation
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Food Services
• Retail Trade
• Transportation and Warehousing
• Wholesale Trade

"Profits will rebound this year in four of the six industries covered in this outlook. The other two industries—transportation and warehousing, and food and beverage manufacturing—can expect slight declines in profits in 2010," said Michael Burt, Associate Director, Industrial Economic Trends. "Weaker economic growth in the second half of 2010 will dampen profitability in 2011 for most of the industries covered."

"Despite signs of recovery, entrepreneurs have had difficulty accessing working capital. To address their needs, BDC has increased its financing activities and, for most industries, posted double-digit growth in loan dollars authorised. BDC loans to the accommodation sector increased by 55 per cent in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009," said Jérôme Nycz, BDC Vice President, Strategy and ERM. "We also took the initiative and promoted an Economic Recovery Loans Program from July to October. Almost 3,800 entrepreneurs took advantage of the program and received pre-authorized BDC loans to finance their operations. Businesses in the hospitality sector were among the most responsive to it. In the current fiscal year, almost 60 per cent of BDC loans to the accommodation industry have been economic recovery loans."

Accommodation

Sales are up, occupancy rates are rising, and prices have improved in the accommodation industry, producing a 24 per cent increase in profits this year. In the first half of 2010, improved corporate profitability and strong employment growth led to more business and personal travel. Domestic travellers remain the main source of growth for the industry, as most other developed economies continue to struggle, and the high dollar makes Canada a more expensive destination for international visitors.

Food and Beverage Manufacturing

In contrast to many other industries, the food and beverage manufacturing industry continued to grow through 2009. A stable domestic market and growing exports to emerging economies contributed to the industry's expansion. But agricultural and energy prices are on the rise and this is expected to lead to a modest correction in industry profits this year and next.

Food Services

With strong job creation occurring in the first half of 2010, consumers started returning to restaurants and spent more dining out. Full-service restaurants bore the brunt of the recession's effects and sales in this segment are proving slow to recover. However, rising sales and price increases will allow industry profits to recover to their pre-recession peak of $1.3 billion in 2010.

Retail Trade

Retail sales rebounded in the first half of the year, but recent fears of slowing economic activity have led to a pause in retail spending growth. Retailers of durable goods—such as furniture, electronics, and motor vehicles—suffered the largest declines during the recession and many have not fully recovered. Sales growth is expected to resume in the coming months. These gains, combined with cost savings from the strong Canadian dollar, will help industry profits to reach a new high of $12.8 billion in 2010.

Transportation and Warehousing

International trade activity has rebounded, boosting demand for transportation services. Industry costs are increasing, however, because fuel prices are on the rise. As a result, the industry will have to wait another year for profits to improve. Profits are expected to decline by 7.5 per cent to $5.1 billion this year before growing steadily over the next four years.

Wholesale Trade

The rebound in retail sales contributed to a recovery in revenues for the wholesale trade industry, even though overall sales are not back to their pre-recession peak. In particular, wholesalers of machinery and equipment have yet to see an improvement in sales. Manufacturers and businesses remain uncertain about the pace of recovery and are waiting before investing in new machinery. Nonetheless, industry profits are forecast to rise by almost 10 per cent in 2010.

The Canadian Industrial Profile Service is part of The Conference Board of Canada's Industrial Economic Trends research. Outlooks for 23 industries are completed each year. The publications are available at www.e-library.ca. BDC clients who wish to receive a copy of the profiles free of charge can contact their BDC account manager.

BDC is Canada's business development bank. From more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs. Visit www.bdc.ca for more information

News From Statistics Canada - What Provinces Grew The Most in 2009?

StatsCan released their annual productivity report today that shows provincial gains in productivity across Canada. 2009 was a tough year across the globe but all things said, Canada managed to stay consistent through the year with slight declines offset by growth.

Five provinces posted growth and among them were PEI, Yukon, Manitoba and BC - with Quebec posting the most growth. Unfortunately, resource based provinces did post a loss.

The good news here is the huge growth we're seeing now in 2010. A quick look at our job postings will show you that all of our provinces are picking up in the last quarter of 2010! When this report is released next year, we all expect higher gains.

Here's the report in full by Statics Canada.



Hours worked and labour productivity in the provinces and territories

Labour productivity of the business sector increased in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia as well as Yukon in 2009. At the national level, productivity was unchanged in 2009, after decreasing by 0.8% a year earlier.

The strongest growth in business productivity occurred in Quebec in 2009, where it increased by 2.0%. The largest declines occurred in the resource-based economies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Labour productivity in the business sector by province and territory, 2009

Both business output and hours worked fell in all provinces and territories except the Yukon.

Nationally, productivity of services-producing businesses increased 1.2%, while that of the goods-producing businesses remained unchanged after three consecutive years of decreases. Real gross domestic product (GDP) fell 9.0% in the goods-producing businesses and 1.0% in the services-producing businesses.

In 2009, businesses adjusted to the economic downturn by sharply reducing hours worked. The weakness in output and in the employment market was confined mostly to the first half of the year.

Average hourly compensation in Canadian businesses rose 3.0% in 2009, same as the previous year. Provincially, Newfoundland and Labrador (+9.4%) had the largest increase in average hourly compensation.
Atlantic provinces

Business productivity rose 0.4% in Prince Edward Island; the only province in Atlantic Canada to record an increase. Real GDP of businesses, which fell 1.9%, was accompanied by an even sharper decline of 2.4% in hours worked.
Note to readers

This release covers provincial and territorial data on labour productivity and related variables by business-sector industry. It constitutes a revision for 2004 to 2009 of the estimates released on June 4. The revisions bring the data into line with the revised data of the "Provincial and territorial economic accounts," published on November 4.

Labour productivity is a measure of real gross domestic product per hour worked. Productivity gains occur when the production of goods and services grows faster than the volume of work dedicated to their production.

Economic performance, as measured by labour productivity, must be interpreted carefully, as these data reflect changes in other inputs, in particular capital, in addition to the efficiency growth of production processes. As well, growth in labour productivity is often influenced by the degree of diversity in the industrial structure. As a result, labour productivity tends to be more volatile in the smaller provinces.

For the purpose of this analysis, as in the national labour productivity releases, productivity measures cover the business sector. It is important to note that real production is based on value added measured at basic prices, not market prices, which is consistent with the detailed framework by industry.

As well, the service-producing business sector and its component, finance, insurance and real estate, exclude the imputed rent for owner-occupied dwellings, because there are no data on the number of hours that homeowners spend on dwelling maintenance services.

In Nova Scotia, productivity was unchanged for a second consecutive year, as real GDP contracted at the same pace as hours worked. A 1.5% decrease in output was due largely to substantial declines in mining and oil and gas extraction and in manufacturing.

In New Brunswick, business productivity was also unchanged after falling 2.7% in 2008. Construction was the main contributor to a 1.7% decline in real GDP.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, productivity fell 8.7% in 2009, the largest decline among the provinces. Real output was down for the first time since 2004, because of a sharp downturn in oil and metallic mineral extraction. At the same time, hours worked fell by 6.3%, also the largest decrease among the provinces.
Hours worked in business sector by province and territory, 2009
Central Canada

In Quebec, most industries contributed to the 2.0% productivity increase. Large advances occurred in retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and the information and cultural industries.

Real GDP of Quebec businesses fell 1.8%, the result of substantial declines in forestry and manufacturing, especially transportation equipment. Hours worked declined 3.7%, with cuts in every industry except finance, insurance and real estate. Manufacturing productivity in Quebec was up 0.9%, its seventh consecutive year of growth.

In Ontario, productivity declined 0.3% compared with a 1.8% decline in 2008. Manufacturing, mining, and transportation and warehousing were responsible for almost the entire 2009 decrease. Weakness in the manufacturing sector, especially the motor vehicle and parts industry, again lowered growth in business output.

Manufacturing productivity in Ontario fell 1.2%, a smaller decline than in 2008. Output and hours worked in manufacturing both fell by more than 10%. It was the fifth consecutive decline in hours worked.
Western provinces

In Manitoba, business productivity rose 0.9%, after remaining unchanged in 2008. Hours worked fell by 1.9%, more than twice the decline of 0.9% in real GDP. The main contributors to the decline in output were agriculture and manufacturing.

In Saskatchewan, business productivity declined 4.1%, compared with a 3.2% gain in 2008 that led all provinces. Hours worked fell by 2.1% in 2009, while real GDP of businesses declined (-6.0%) for the first time since 2006, primarily because of a steep decline in mining, oil and gas production.

In Alberta, business productivity was down 1.3%, the third consecutive decrease. The main contributors to the productivity decline were construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and transportation and warehousing. Real GDP of businesses fell 6.7%, mainly a result of declines in construction and manufacturing. Hours worked in businesses fell 5.5%, with the largest declines in mining and oil and gas extraction and in construction.

After two consecutive annual decreases, business productivity in British Columbia rebounded by 1.2% in 2009. Real GDP of businesses declined by 3.9%, while hours worked fell by 5.2%. The weakness in real GDP was due primarily to manufacturing and forestry. The main contributors to the decrease in hours worked were forestry, mining, construction, manufacturing and wholesale trade.
The territories

Business productivity in Yukon rebounded with a 0.6% gain in 2009, as real output grew at a faster pace than hours worked. This followed a 6.0% productivity decline in 2008. The main factors in increases in both real output and hours worked were mining operations and construction work associated with the development of a new mine.

In the Northwest Territories, productivity fell 3.4%, following a sharp 8.8% drop in 2008. Substantially lower output by diamond mines due to weaker global demand was responsible for the decrease. Hours worked declined 12.2%, the largest drop in the country.

In Nunavut, productivity fell 12.7% in 2009. Business output was down sharply with the end of construction at the Meadowbank Gold Mine.

The West is the Best - As Far As Growth in 2011 Is Concerned Anyways

Scotia Trends released a report yesterday ranking economical advancement by province and the results are clear - Western Canada is the place to be.

The report cites Central Canada's reliance on the US as a big reason for Western Canada leading the pack. Alberta and Saskatchewan are in top places - largely due to their resources. In third place for growth is Newfoundland due to their natural resources.

The report credits export commodities and capital investment as the two top fuellers of Canada's economic growth in 2011.

Here's an article in full from John Morrissy of the Financial Post.

West rises out of recession's ashes

OTTAWA — The West will lead Canada in 2011 and for years to come as the country's economic strength continues to shift toward resources and away manufacturing, says the author of a new Provincial Trends report from Scotia Economics.

"With Central Canada being much more tied to the U.S. economy, we see the Western provinces outperforming mainly on the fact that the one thing that's going to keep going in spite of decreased activity in the U.S. is our commodity exports," said economist Alex Koustas.

The divide between the East and the West is reflected in the bank's provincial growth forecasts for 2011. While the expectation is for generally slower growth, the numbers wane when you move out of the resource-based West and into manufacturing-focused Ontario and Quebec

Alberta will lead with growth of 3.5 per cent, followed by Saskatchewan at 3.3 per cent. In Ontario and Quebec, the forecasts drop to two per cent and 1.9 per cent, respectively.

"With the consumer growth profile in Canada shifting down a bit along with the housing sector, the two big drivers are going to be (commodities) exports and capital investment," said Koustas. "A lot of the big capital projects that we're seeing are in the West."

Alberta's energy sector and its renewed slate of oilsands projects are going to be "a huge driver of investment," along with continued growth in Saskatchewan's potash industry and oilfields, and British Columbia's mining and natural gas industries, Koustas said.

Newfoundland and Labrador also ranks near the top of the growth profile for the year ahead, at 3.1 per cent, driven by demand for its deposits of iron ore and nickel.

The general slowing trend in the economy results from a winding down of the inventory restocking cycle, a cooling in housing activity a more cautious consumer and a winding down of recession-related stimulus spending.

But a lower-priced U.S. dollar and commodity demand from emerging markets will offset the decline, the report said.

As a result, "the West will continue to be one of the strongest performing regions in Canada for the next couple of years," Koustas said.

That strength is helping Central Canada withstand the effects of an over-priced loonie and weak demand for Canadian exports from the U.S., he added.

"Now a lot of manufacturers are shipping out west to supply those capital projects and avoiding U.S. currency problems altogether."

The Maritimes are projected to deliver growth of about two per cent in 2011, which reflects the fact that New Brunswick, Nova Scota and Prince Edward Island were hit less hard during the recession and are therefore not showing the kinds of rebounds from more depressed levels like in Alberta.

Forecast GDP growth for 2011

British Columbia 2.8%

Alberta 3.5%

Saskatchewan 3.3%

Manitoba 2.5%

Ontario 2.0%

Quebec 1.9%

New Brunswick 2.0%

Nova Scotia 1.9%

Prince Edward Island 1.9%

Newfoundland and Labrador 3.1%

Source: Scotia Economics

© The Financial Post

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Economic+sluggishness+affect+Central+Canada+most/3841630/story.html#ixzz15gQJpPdg

More & more interest in working from home or telecommuting

A study put out today by Ipsos Reid said that roughly 75% of respondents believe employers are limiting their candidate pool because they don't offer work-from-home or telecommuting. The study goes on to say that 87% said that they were 'hungry' for technology that allows them to work from home.

Over the past few years Canadian employers have been more accepting of the idea of employees working off site, but there are still concerns over confidentiality and the productivity of unsupervised employees.

Here's an article in full by Derek Abma of Postmedia News.

Canadians want jobs they don't relocate for: survey

Companies would have better luck hiring the people they really want if they were less picky about where they worked, according to poll results released Wednesday.

The survey, done by Ipsos-Reid and commissioned by Microsoft Canada, showed that three-quarters of those asked believe employers limit their hiring options by not offering the choice of working off-site — possibly in a different city.

The poll found about 90 per cent of respondents would rather not relocate for a job, while 87 per cent said they were "hungry" for technology that allows work to be done from any location.

Other findings included 84 per cent saying that location can be a barrier to securing one's ideal job, and 88 per cent agreed that technology should help people avoid the need to relocate for employment.

"Canadian workers have historically been bound by the location of their employer," Kevin Stolarick, research director for the Martin Prosperity Institute, said in a statement issued by Microsoft. "Today though, workers have become upwardly mobile and dispersed across a massive geographical area as the scope of business expands across borders."

Stolarick's organization is a think-tank associated with the University of Toronto's Rotman School of management, which looks into the role geography plays in economic prosperity.

Barbara Jaworski, CEO of the Toronto-based Workplace Institute, an independent consulting group, said she agrees that location should play less of a role in determining whether someone is able to accept a job.

"I totally agree with this survey," she said. "I think more and more people are definitely wanting to have the option of working from wherever they are."

Jaworksi said more flexibility from employers on this matter would be good for employees, who wouldn't have to disrupt their lives and that of their families to take employment in other locations.

She also said it would be positive for employers who would have more candidates to choose from for job openings, and they could potentially see less disruption in their operations from things such as illness when employees are set up to work from home.

Jaworski said private-sector employers have, in recent years, become more open to remote-location employment arrangements, but there is still much resistance in government, where security of information is often cited as a concern.

The online survey of 1,046 Canadians was taken between Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. The results were weighted to reflect the demographic makeup of the country so the results accurately represent the opinions of Canadians.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/Canadians+want+jobs+they+relocate+survey/3844070/story.html#ixzz15aaIeG7O