Hiring optimism dips to 69% while entry-level recruitment sees sharp decline from last year
A growing number of Canadian employers are planning layoffs and fewer are hiring, with cost-cutting now the leading reason for workforce reductions, according to a new Harris Poll conducted for Express Employment Professionals.
The proportion of companies planning to reduce headcount has risen to 13 percent, up from 8 percent last summer. Among those preparing cuts, 67 percent cite cost-cutting as the main driver.
Others point to adapting to government policy changes (30 percent) and declining demand (25 percent).
At the same time, the share of hiring managers with a positive hiring outlook for the second half of 2025 has dropped to 69 percent, down from 74 percent a year ago.
Meanwhile, 46 percent now report a negative outlook—up from 38 percent in June 2024.
Only 43 percent of companies plan to add staff, compared to 49 percent a year earlier.
Among those hiring, 51 percent aim to address rising workloads, 42 percent are replacing turnover, and 35 percent are filling newly created roles.
Hiring priorities have also shifted.
Mid-level roles are the most targeted at 46 percent, while entry-level hiring has fallen to 43 percent—down from 56 percent last year.
Full-time positions remain the dominant focus (74 percent), though one in four firms (25 percent) plan to hire part-time.
“These numbers tell a story of employers recalibrating,” said Bob Funk, Jr., CEO, president and chairman of Express Employment International. “They’re still hiring, but with more intention, more strategy and a sharper eye on the future.”
The Job Insights survey was conducted online in Canada by The Harris Poll from June 2 to June 18, among 500 Canadian hiring decision-makers.
