4 Industries in Toronto Hiring Right Now

Are you looking for work in the Greater Toronto Area? Great news, many industries are looking to hire qualified workers right now. Here are four of the top industries that are hiring in Toronto right now.

 

Medical Workers

While the pandemic has mostly subsided, medical workers are still desperately needed. Toronto is looking to hire medical workers for various fields right now, from doctors and nurses to home health and senior care aides. Some of these positions require extensive medical training, while others are open to those who complete some training courses. If you’re looking to get into the medical field, now is the time!

 

Airport Workers

It’s no secret that Toronto Pearson airport has been a mess lately. From long lines to lost luggage, the airport has been struggling. A big reason behind this is their need for workers. Airport workers are in hot demand right now, and the top airlines are looking to hire them. From flight attendants to baggage handlers, there are many open positions for those interested.

 

Transportation Workers

The transportation industry has many lucrative opportunities and strong career growth potential. The trucking industry is looking to hire qualified drivers to keep Canada’s supply chain going. The great thing about entering the transportation industry is that many companies provide the training required or have positions ready and open for those who complete them on their own.

 

Customer Service

The pandemic hit customer service jobs, such as retail and food service workers, hard. Many of these workers had to pivot into different sectors, leaving openings now that customer service jobs are back. The great thing is that most customer service jobs don’t require training or experience, just a good attitude!

 

Interested in pursuing these jobs?

At Nova Staffing, we specialize in helping companies fill job openings and aiding workers in finding the right positions for their skills. If you’re interested in finding a job, contact us today or check out our online job board!

 

New Hiring Trends Companies Should Pay Attention To

Finding and hiring quality employees has never been more vital nor more challenging. Canadian companies are currently experiencing a “war for talent” with such a hot hiring market, and job seekers holding power have seen new hiring trends emerge. According to our hiring experts at Nova Staffing, if your company wants to stay competitive and seek quality candidates, here are some of the latest hiring trends you should pay attention to.   

 

Job Seekers Hold the Power

It’s safe to say that Canada and other places in the world are experiencing a labor shortage. With unemployment at its lowest since the start of the pandemic and with more job openings than ever before, job seekers hold all the power. This can be a new experience for companies that used to have thousands of applicants for one job. Candidates are now in the position of being picky and not just taking whatever is offered to them.

 

If your company wants to hire quality candidates, it’s important to understand where the power lies. Your hiring process should reflect this. Instead of your interview process being about candidates convincing you of their value and strengths, you should be wooing them about how great you are to work for. These days, it’s your company that is being interviewed, not the candidate.

 

Streamlined and Shortened Process

Our hiring experts know just how long and tedious the hiring process can be. For larger companies and certain industries, a new hire requires multiple people to agree and sign off on it. That sort of timeline just isn’t feasible anymore. Candidates don’t wait around for weeks waiting to hear if they got a job.

 

At our employment agency, we encourage our clients to make their hiring decisions within a week, two at the longest. Otherwise, you risk quality job seekers moving on to new opportunities.

 

Flexibility at the Forefront 

Flexibility is one of the top issues job seekers have these days. In fact, a huge reason people are leaving their old jobs is for not being flexible. A lot of candidates aren’t willing to commit to being forced to come into the office five days a week, especially if their job doesn’t require them to be on site.

 

Offering things such as work from home or hybrid models can appeal to more candidates. Additional flexibility around things like vacation and sick days can also attract new hires.

 

Are you ready to start filling open positions with the highest quality candidates? Contact Nova Staffing today! Our team of hiring experts has over 200 years of combined industry experience and is more than up to the task of finding you the right new hires.

 

Ontario Employment Outlook: December 2021

Ontario’s employment continued to improve in December 2021, making it the seventh consecutive month the province saw employment increase. This was despite COVID-19 restrictions coming into place late in the month due to the Omicron variant.

Here is a look at how employment in Ontario was impacted in December 2021, compiled by our employment experts at Nova Staffing. All data is from the Ontario Government December 2021 Labour Market report.  

Employment Summary

In December, Ontario had 7.7 million (61.6%) employed individuals, up 46,900 (0.6%) jobs from November. Overall, the province was 2.1% (160,600 jobs) above its pre-COVID-19 February 2020 levels. 

As employment increased, unemployment in Ontario dropped. In December, there were 491,900 unemployed individuals in the province, down 5.1% from the 519,100 unemployed individuals in November.  

Employment by Age

Youth employment (15-24) saw an increase of 18,800 in December, following a decline in the previous month. Unemployment for this demographic dropped to 10.8%, down from 11.4% in November. 

Adult employment (25-54) also saw an increase of 28,500 new jobs in December, meaning this age group was 3.3% above its pre-COVID levels. Unemployment for adults dropped from 5.1% in November to 5.0% in December. Senior employment (55+) had no significant employment change in December, but unemployment for this demographic did drop 6%, down from 6.9% from the previous month. 

Employment by Sector

Employment sectors continued to gain at different rates in December 2021. Those that saw the greatest employment gains in Ontario were led by Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (+96 K), and followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade (+59.2 K), Information, Culture, and Recreation (+39.3 K), and Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (+36 K). 

Ontario industries that saw the greatest employment loss in December were Accommodation and Food Services (-50.5 K), Other Services (Except Public Administration) (-45.9 K), Business, Building, and Other Support Services (-31.3 K), and Construction (-17.8 K).  

Employment by Region

Fourteen of Ontario’s CMAs saw employment growth in December. The regions that saw the greatest growth was Toronto (+210.7 K), followed by Windsor (+31.2 K), London (+25.9), Hamilton (+20.0 K), Ottawa-Gatineau (+18.6 K), Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (+17.2 K), Oshawa (+11.6 K), Guelph (+10.2 K), St. Catharines-Niagara (+9.8 K), Peterborough (+8.4 K), Barrie (+4.4 K), Greater Sudbury (+2.7 K), Thunder Bay (+2.2 K), and Belleville (+0.8 K). 

 The two Ontario regions that saw employment loss in December were Kingston (-1.7 K) and Brantford (-0.6 K). 

Is your company looking for help hiring top talent or need staffing solutions? Contact Nova Staffing! Our team of employment experts has over 200 years of combined industry experience and is here to help.

2022 Hiring Trends to Pay Attention To

Are you looking for a new career or want to expand your team in the New Year? In order to have the most success, as both an employee or employer, it’s important to understand the latest hiring trends. Our recruitment experts at Nova Staffing explain some of the rising hiring trends you should pay attention to in 2022.

 

Virtual Recruiting is the New Normal

Before the pandemic, hiring agencies and companies were already conducting initial interview rounds over the phone or computer. When the pandemic struck, the entire hiring process turned virtual, and now that’s here to stay. Recruitment agencies have started expanding virtual hiring, hosting entire virtual events, multi-person remote interviews, and virtual workplace tours. It’s not unusual these days for someone to get hired without ever having met someone from the company in person. Virtual interviews will be around for a while, with only final-round candidates likely getting an in-person interview, so make sure you’re comfortable with video interviews. 

 

Employment Gaps No Longer Alarming

Gaps in employment history used to be a red flag for recruiters. Even if it didn’t prohibit someone from getting hired, it still raised questions. These days, companies and recruiters don’t care about employment gaps as much. Not only are companies eager to fill vacancies, but they also realize that the pandemic resulted in a loss of employment opportunities for people. The pandemic also saw a rise in burnout and mental health issues, which companies are more understanding towards. So if you have gaps in your employment, don’t expect to face as much of a stigma these days. 

 

Remote Working & Hybrid is Sticking Around

Although some industries and companies still require employees to come into physical workspaces, many companies are fully embracing remote working and hybrid work models. Not only is this better in the constantly changing COVID-19 landscape, but it’s also now the preferred work method for many employees. In fact, flexible working options are now a top criteria for candidates applying to jobs. 

 

“Onsite” is the New “Offsite”

Remember before the pandemic when offsite meetings and team events were a special treat? With the rise of remote and hybrid working, “onsite” is now the new “offsite.” Coming into the office to collaborate in person, touch base, or have team meetings will now be the rare, special event. Onsite meetings will now require the same planning and attention that offsite meetings used to have, especially with so many not used to commuting daily anymore. 

 

Are you looking for recruitment help? Our team of HR experts at Nova Staffing specializes in helping job seekers and companies with job vacancies. Contact us today or check out our online job board to get started today!  

 

Ontario Employment Outlook: November 2021

Ontario’s employment improved again in November 2021, marking the sixth consecutive month that the province saw employment increase. This was likely due to Ontario being primarily free from COVID-19 restrictions, although proof of vaccination was mandatory. 

 

Here is a look at how employment in Ontario was impacted in November 2021, compiled by our employment experts at Nova Staffing. All data is from the Ontario Government November 2021 Labour Market report. 

 

 

Employment Summary

In November, Ontario had 7.6 million employed individuals, up 68,100 jobs (0.9%) from October. This brought the province 113,700 (1.5%) above its pre-COVID-19 February 2020 levels. 

 

In November, unemployment also decreased, with 519,100 unemployed individuals, down 8.6% from the 567,900 unemployed people in the previous month. 

 

Employment by Age

Youth employment continued to be the most impacted in November. Youth employment (15-24) dropped by 11,600 jobs in November, after gaining 18,100 jobs in October. Unemployment for youths jumped to 11.4% from 9.9%. 

 

In November, adult employment (25-54) saw a major jump in employment, adding 63,800 new jobs. Unemployment for this age demographic dropped to 5.1% from 6.3% in October. After seeing no change the previous month, senior employment added 15,900 jobs in November, and unemployment for seniors dropped to 6.9% from 7.2%. 

 

Employment by Sector

Certain sectors continued to struggle to get to their pre-COVID levels. The sectors that saw the most employment loss were led by Accommodation and Food Services (-50.3K), Other Services (Except Public Admin) (-49.7 K), Business, Building, and Other Support Services (-32.8K), Construction (-19.5K).

 

Industries that saw the greatest employment growth in November 2021 were led by Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (+97.7K), Information, Culture, and Recreation (+46.5K), Wholesale and Retail Trade (+41.3K), and Finance, insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (+32.3K).

 

Employment by Region

Thirteen of Ontario’s CMA’s saw employment growth in November. This was led by Toronto (+32.9K), and followed by Oshawa (+7.6K), Windsor (+7.1K), Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (+5.0K), London (+2.6K), Thunder Bay (+1.0K), Greater Sudbury (+0.9K), Barrie (+0.9K), Belleville (+0.7K), Kingston (+0.5K), Guelph (+0.4K), Peterborough (+0.3K), and Brantford (+0.1K)

 

The three regions that saw employment loss in Ontario in November 2021 were Ottawa-Gatineau (-3.4K), Hamilton (-2.9K), and St. Catharines-Niagara (-2.1K). 

 

Is your company looking for help hiring top talent or need staffing solutions? Contact Nova Staffing! Our team of employment experts has over 200 years of combined industry experience and is here to help.

 

Ontario Employment Outlook: July 2021 Report

Ontario’s employment continued to improve in July 2021, following June’s trend. This was likely due to the province moving into Stage 2 of reopening at the end of June and into Stage 3 in the middle of July. More types of businesses were allowed to reopen and expand capacity, helping employment. 

 

Here is a look at how employment in Ontario was impacted in July 2021, compiled by our employment experts at Nova Staffing. All data is from the Ontario Government July 2021 Labour Market report. 

 

 

Employment Summary

In July, Ontario had 7.4 million (59.8%) employed individuals, up 72,400 from June, a 1% increase. Employment was still 1.6% below its pre-COVID-10 February 2020 levels. 

 

Unemployment also improved in July. Ontario’s unemployment rate dropped down to 4% from 8.4% in June. In total, 641,900 people were unemployed, down 4% from the previous month.

 

Employment by Age

Youth employment (15-24) saw a 42,500 job increase in July. This was a slower increase than the previous month, but unemployment dropped down to 14.5% from 17.2% in June.

 

Adult employment (25-54) added 47,200 employed individuals, a 1% increase from the previous month. Unemployment stayed unchanged at 6.5%. Senior unemployment (55+) didn’t improve in July, however. This demographic saw 17,400 fewer jobs in July, though unemployment did drop to 8.2% from 8.3% in June. 

 

Employment by Sector

Different industries continued to be hit harder by COVID-19 precautions than others, even moving into reopening Stage 2 and Stage 3. Sectors that were furthest from their pre-COVID-19 levels were Accommodation and Food Services (-80.2%), Construction (-39.2%), Information, Culture, and Recreation (-31.1%), Business, Building, and Other Support Services (-22.2%), and Transportation and Warehousing (-22.2%).

 

Other industries saw employment gains in July 2021. These sectors include Professional, Scientific, and Technical Service (+67.5%), Manufacturing (+27.1%), Public Administration (+17.4%), Health Care and Social Assistance (+11.3%), and Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (+7.4%).

 

Employment by Region

Twelve of Ontario’s sixteen CMA’s saw employment gains in July 2021. Toronto led with 44.4%, followed by Barrie (+4.6%), Ottawa-Gatineau (+3.3%), Oshawa (+3.1%), Guelph (+2.3%), St. Catharines-Niagara (+2.2%), Belleville (+1.6%), London (+0.7%), Windsor (+0.3%), Brantford (+0.2%), Kingston (+0.2%), and Thunder Bay (+0.1%).

 

Only four of Ontario’s CMAs saw employment loss, including Hamilton (-2.5%), Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (-0.8%), Greater Sudbury (-0.5%), and Peterborough (-0.4%). 

 

Is your company looking for help hiring top talent or need staffing solutions? Contact Nova Staffing! Our team of employment experts has over 200 years of combined industry experience and is here to help.

 

Ontario Employment Outlook: April 2021 Report

Ontario’s employment took a major blow in April, after the province’s mandatory closure of non-essential businesses. A provincial-wide stay-at-home order also took effect on April 8th, 2021, impacting employment and businesses even more. 

 

Here is a quick look at how employment in Ontario was impacted in April 2021, compiled by our employment experts at Nova Staffing. All data is from the Ontario Government April 2021 Labour Market report. 

 

 

Employment Summary

Employment dropped significantly in Ontario in April due to provincial-wide measures meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 that shut down or limited many businesses. 7.2 million people in Ontario were employed in April, down from 152,700 jobs from March. 

 

Unemployment rose as a result as well. Unemployment dropped down to 7.5% in March but rose up to 9% in April with 716,800 fewer jobs. This was a shocking 20.2% increase in unemployment. 

 

Employment by Age

Youth employment continued to suffer the most as a result of COVID-19 measures. In April, youth employment (15-24) had 73,000 fewer jobs and saw unemployment rise to 20.4%, up from 15.1% in April. 

 

Adult employment (25-54) was also heavily impacted by the measured put in place in April 2021. This demographic saw employment decrease 37,600 jobs, with unemployment rising from 6.7% in March to 7.3% in April. Senior employment also suffered, losing 42,100 jobs and unemployment rising to 7.2%.  

 

Employment by Sector

Government restriction on the types of businesses deemed essential and other measures disproportionally impacted some sectors more than others. In April, those that were furthest were their pre-COVID-19 levels were Accommodation and Food Services (-135.1%), Wholesale and Retail Trade (-73%), Business, Building, and Other Support Services (-45.6%), and Transportation and Warehousing (-27.9%). 

 

Not all industries saw employment loss, however. A number of sectors, especially those deemed essential by the government, saw employment growth in April. This included Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (+40.8%), Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (+33.4%), Manufacturing (+14.7%), and Public Administration (+8.9%). 

 

Employment by Region

Despite Ontario’s overall employment outlook dropping in April, thirteen out of the province’s sixteen CMAs saw employment levels increase between March and April. This included Hamilton (6.6%), Ottawa-Gatineau (6.4%), St. Catharines-Niagara (6.1%), Toronto (4.9%), London (3.6%), Windsor (3%), Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (3%), Peterborough (2.8%), Barrie (2%), Guelph (1.8%), Brantford (1%), and Greater Sudbury (0.7%).

 

The three regions that saw notable declines in employment were Oshawa (-2.4%), Belleville (-2%), and Kingston (-1.3%). 

 

Is your company looking for staffing solutions or need help hiring top talent? Contact Nova Staffing today! With over 200 years of combined industry experience, our team of employment experts is here to help.

 

 

6 Ways to Reduce Job Interview Anxiety

Interviewing for a new job can be stressful, even if you feel more than qualified for the position. If you feel interview anxiety before the big day, know you’re not alone. It’s completely understandable and common. After all, our job and salary make a big impact on our overall quality of life. Everyone wants to nail their interview in hopes of landing a job offer. Nerves can trip you up, though, so here are a few tips from our recruitment experts at Nova Staffing on how to reduce them!

 

Take Time to Prepare

A lot of job interview anxiety comes from the unknown. You can eliminate this by preparing ahead of time. Set aside time in the days leading up to the interview to review your resume, reread the job posting, and research the company. The more ready and prepared you are, the less your nerves will be.

 

Do a Practice Interview

Don’t just stop at research and revision if you’re super nervous. Have a family member or friend set up a mock interview! Practicing questions and responses will help you feel more comfortable and give you a chance to prepare good answers. Especially focus on things like your past accomplishments and what you can bring to the role.

 

Dress to Impress

When we look good, we feel good! Everyone knows to dress up a bit for an interview, but make sure you’re picking an outfit that makes you feel confident. If you feel awkward and uncomfortable, that’s going to come across in the interview. Take the time to plan out your outfit ahead of time so you can ensure you look confident, even if you don’t feel it. This will also prevent any last-minute scrambling from ironing a shirt or finding the right shoes on the day of.  

 

Minimize the Unknowns

Make sure you have all of the little details down ahead of time so that you’re not caught out due to miscommunication at the last minute. Verify things such as where you’re meeting, the time, and even read up on who you’re meeting with if you know. If the interview is virtual, make sure you set the software ahead of time and get yourself familiar with the technology.

 

Mind Your Thoughts

When we’re anxious about something, it’s easy to let negative thoughts overtake us. What if there’s traffic and I miss the interview? What if Zoom crashes? What if I say the wrong thing? While it’s natural to worry about what can go wrong, make sure that you focus on the positives too. There’s a reason they’re interviewing you, so remind yourself on the positive aspects of the situation as well.

 

Decompress the Day Before

The night before the interview should be about reviewing rather than full-on prep. If you’ve prepared ahead of time, all you need to do the night before is look everything over again, so it’s fresh in your mind. After that, lower your stress by doing something that you enjoy or that relaxes you. Maybe it’s reading a book or working out. Maybe it’s chatting with a friend or meditating. Whatever works to keep you calm, do it!

 

Are you ready to make a career move or looking for a new position? Contact us today or check out our online job listings! Nova Staffing is one of the best recruitment agencies in Toronto, and we’re here to help you find your next position.

 

What Recruitment Agencies Look for in Production and Warehouse Candidates

Many entry-level careers in production and warehousing are better paying than other entry-level positions in other industries such as customer service and retail. It’s an easy career to get into and often has room for upward mobility. It’s also an industry that is in high demand right now. That doesn’t mean every candidate is a good fit, though. Here are a few things employment agencies like Nova Staffing look for in candidates for these positions.

 

Experience

Experience isn’t necessary for every job position, but it certainly helps. Recruitment agencies especially look at experience running certain types of machines. Already knowing how to use equipment in warehouses is a huge plus. Everyone has to start somewhere, though, so if it’s an entry-level production or warehousing position, don’t stress if you don’t have experience yet.

 

Dependability

Dependability is huge for warehouse and production jobs. When someone misses their shift, it can mean a decline in production and revenue, not to mention additional stress and pressure on the other employees. An employment agency will look for a good job history with few gaps as evidence that you’re a reliable candidate. Having major gaps in employment or switching jobs frequently doesn’t mean you won’t be considered but expect to be asked about it during the interview process.

 

Adept

Warehouses and factories are high-paced work environments. Companies are looking for candidates that have the ability to learn quickly and adapt to change. Remember, companies have to meet a certain quota within their deadline, or their whole business is at risk. Candidates that can learn new tasks quickly are highly valued and sought after.

 

Communication

Many people might not think communication is important in a production or warehouse role, but they couldn’t be more wrong. These workplaces are fast-paced and use a lot of heavy equipment. Being able to listen and communicate effectively is key to productivity and safety.

 

Specialization

If you’re looking for a higher-paying career in warehousing, production, manufacturing, or factories, you should consider specializing your skillset. Candidates with certifications or training in things like welding, CNC, forklifts, and more will see more job opportunities and growth. If you have any specialized skills, be sure to let the recruitment agency know!

 

If you’re ready to start your new career, contact us today or check out our online job listings! Nova Staffing is one of the top employment agencies in the GTA. Our team of staffing experts have over 200 years of combined industry experience and can help find you the perfect position.  

 

Ontario Employment Outlook: March 2021 Report

Employment in Ontario recovered even more in March after a devastating January. This was due to the stay-at-home order being lifted for most regions in Ontario around this time. Businesses were able to reopen, causing a surge in employment.

 

Here is a quick market summary report of Ontario’s employment outlook for March 2021, compiled by our employment experts at Nova Staffing. All data is from the Ontario Government March 2021 Labour Market report.

 

Employment Summary

Employment increased in Ontario in March, with 7.4 million people employed, up by 182,300 jobs from February. This was likely due to the stay-at-home order being lifted in the province.

 

Unemployment also dropped down to 7.5% in March from 9.2% in February. There were only 596,400 unemployed individuals in the province, down from 726,500. Overall, unemployment decreased by 17.9% in March.

 

Employment by Age

Although youth employment (15-24) continues to be the most impacted by COVID-19, this demographic did see employment gains in March. Youth employment added 59,000 jobs, and unemployment dropped to 15.1%, down from 20.9% in February.

 

Adult employment (25-54) added 61,700 new jobs in March, with the unemployment rate dropped from 7.3% in February down to 6.7%. Senior employment also saw gains this month, adding 61,600 new jobs. Unemployment for seniors also dropped down to 5%.

 

Employment by Sector

Certain industries continued to be hitter harder due to COVID-19. Although the stay-at-home order was lifted in March, a number of sectors were still not allowed to operate at full capacity. The sectors that continued to struggle in March and were furthest from their pre-COVID-19 numbers were: Accommodation and Food Services (-111.5%), Business, Building, and Other Support Services (-40.9%), and Transportation and Warehousing (-32.1%), and Construction (-19.1%).

 

Not all industries struggled, though. Some industries were able to increase employment in March such as Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (+41.6%), Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and Leasing (+26.1%), Manufacturing (+24.8%), and Educational Services (+21.1%).

 

Employment by Region

Although the majority of Ontario saw the stay-at-home order lifted, certain regions such as Toronto were still heavily restricted, resulting in employment losses. The regions that saw employment loss or no gains in March were Belleville (-2.4%), Oshawa (-2.0%), Kingston (-0.6%), Toronto (-0.6%), Thunder Bay (-0.2%), Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (0%).

 

Ten of Ontario’s CMAs did see employment growth in Match, though. These include Windsor (+8.1%), Ottawa-Gatineau (+6.6%), Hamilton (+6.5%), St. Catharine’s- Niagara (+4.4%), Barrie (+3.3%), Peterborough (+2.6%), Brantford (+2.1%), Guelph (+2.0%), London (+1.3%), Greater Sudbury (+0.6%).

 

Is your company looking for staffing solutions or need help hiring top talent? Contact Nova Staffing today! With over 200 years of combined industry experience, our team of employment experts is here to help.