Good news for jobseekers in Canada. Predictions for the job market seem hot, hot, hot…at least for the first quarter of 2004, with most industries planning to hire, rather than downsize, more staff. According to an article in Canada’s national newspaper, the Globe and Mail, this optimistic outlook is a result of better-than-expected job creation in the last quarter of 2003. Some of the industries that still expect to lay off personnel in this period are affected more by seasonal cycles than by complex economic factors. Such is the case in the retail and wholesale industries, where the post-holiday blues traditionally take a bite out of sales. The construction industry suffers a similar fate as the inevitable Canadian winter slows building.

Overall, the predictions are strong across the country. The most promising sectors include finance, insurance and real estate, as well as the durable goods, mining and services sectors. However, location will prove to play a significant role in the intensity of the hiring spree. Western Canada’s job market leads Canada in hiring predictions. Quebec follows the west, with Atlantic Canada trailing. Atlantic Canada may still see more layoffs than hiring, at least for the first few months of 2004. Ontario’s hiring trend has been described by the Globe and Mail as “flat”, although this characterizes the job-creation scenario between Ontario and Western Canada. Typically, when Western Canada’s economy experiences a boom, Ontario’s economy suffers a downturn, and vice versa.

The hiring plans that were put on hold at the start of the holiday season are also bolstering employment in the New Year. Very often, hiring managers take vacation during the last weeks of December, and as many companies work with a “skeleton staff” during this time, hiring plans are placed on the back burner until after the holidays. As the New Year gears up, it becomes business as usual, and hiring plans are revisited.

The question often asked by jobseekers is, “When is the best time to search for a job?” The truth of the matter is that there is really no formula to determine the best time. It comes down to the health of the local and national economy, the hiring patterns for a specific industry and the demand for certain skills or talents. That being said, a jobseeker will get little response by sending out CV/resumes on December 24. However, most hiring managers are eager to fill their vacant positions, and will be attracted by a good CV/resume any time of the year.

All in all, 2004 seems to be shaping up as a banner year for hiring across the country in many industries. Canada is a growing country with untapped potential, which translates into a rising economy and promising job markets. Those who are considering relocation to Canada in the coming year may want to plan a trip to their destination city to interview for employment while the market is still blazing. Take advantage of the projected job growth…strike while the iron is hot!