The Research
Overview
Questions probed current staffing needs, incidence of staff shortages and the impact of shortages challenges hiring.
In addition, respondents agreeing to answer further questions were asked of they had hired in the last year and if these hires were new to Alberta.
Methodology
Between January 5th and February 9th, 2024, an online survey was completed by businesses within Alberta. In all, 322 businesses completed the survey which was administered on the Alberta Perspectives platform by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce to members and other affiliated businesses. In addition, 263 of the initial respondents answered a number of follow up questions appended to the end of the survey. These are found at the end of the report.
How we’ll use our findings
- Broaden and deepen the evidence the ACC and local chambers can bring forward to articulate the perspectives of the province’s business community
- Understand the reality faced by our business community
- Make the research available to individual chambers
Key Findings
- Fewer employers expect the size of their workforce to increase in the next six or 12 months.
- While remaining an issue, there was a decline to half (52%) of employers reporting they are experiencing either a moderate (34%) or significant (18%) staff shortage.
- Almost four-in-ten (37%) employers hired someone from outside the province in the last year – either from elsewhere in Canada or a recent immigrant.
- Over half of Alberta organizations (57%) report that in the last year it is becoming harder to hire the workers they need.
- Although staff shortages continue to have the biggest impact on profitability (57%) there has been a substantial increase in the proportion reporting these shortages are impacting their ability to tap into promising markets (49%)
- Fewer are saying they are unable to fulfil core functions of the organization (33% vs.45% in Jul’23)
- One-quarter (26%) of employers experiencing a staff shortage in January 2024 say it is having a significant impact in terms of loss of production or sales opportunities.