Welcome to RCC

The good news is that employment in Canada has steadily increased since August 2006, with average monthly gains of 42,000. There were an estimated 392,000 more people working in February 2007 compared to a year before, and most of these new jobs were full-time positions. There were also more young people employed, bringing total gains over the past year to 48,000. The participation rate for workers aged 55 and over has surged to the highest level on record.

However, the strong competition for labour is affecting businesses in all sectors. A recent survey of small and medium-sized firms indicates roughly 250,000 job openings in the small business sector were left unfilled last year for at least four months. The labour crunch is most evident in Alberta and British Columbia, where more than one-third of small business owners are spending more in wages and benefits to attract and keep workers.

Right across the country, the retail industry will draw from the same labour pool as every other sector. Retailers need to find solutions through an industry-wide approach to common labour concerns. Already, retailers have filled vacant positions by looking beyond traditional sources to new pools of labour, such as retirees and immigrant populations.

Retailers have also found success in creating new incentives for prospective employees. By adopting a positive attitude to CSR practices, developing flexible schedules, providing relevant training, stressing career opportunities in retail and other engaging incentives, some retailers have secured the workers they need — for the moment.