Rehiring laid-off workers, flexible work arrangements, more green jobs and less business travel are among trends for 2010, according to a recent survey. The CareerBuilder.ca survey, which was conducted with 255 hiring managers and human resource professionals in private sector companies, found that 29 per cent of employers plan to increase their number of full-time permanent employees in 2010, up sharply from 18 per cent who anticipated increasing headcount in 2009. Nine per cent plan to decrease staff levels in 2010 while 48 per cent expect no change. Fifteen per cent are unsure.

An increase was also reported with part-time employment. Eighteen per cent of employers plan to increase their number of part-time employees in 2010, up from 13 per cent who expected to do so in 2009. Nine per cent plan to decrease part-time headcount in 2010, 61 per cent expect no change and 13 per cent are unsure.

When asked which areas will be a priority for employers to hire first in 2010, more than half (51 per cent) of employers pointed to technology positions, while 26 per cent cited customer service positions. Revenue generation will also be a primary focus. One-quarter (24 per cent) of employers report they plan to add business development workers first, followed by marketing (21 per cent) and sales (16 per cent).

“The Canadian job market had its ups and downs in 2009, but employers are optimistic about hiring in the new year as the economy recovers,” said Hunter Arnold, managing director of CareerBuilder Canada. “Companies say they will add more employees to their payrolls in 2010, a trend that will be widespread across most provinces and industries.”

Seven Major 2010 Hiring Trends

1. Replacing Low-Performing Workers: Some companies are using this economic recovery period to strengthen their workforce by recruiting top talent to replace low performing workers. Forty-two per cent of employers said they planned to hire A-players to replace low performers in 2010.
2. Flexible Work Arrangements: Companies plan to continue providing employees with greater flexibility in hopes of maintaining a better work-life balance. Forty-three per cent of employers say they plan to provide more flexible work arrangements in 2010, which include:
   • Alternate schedules–come in early and leave early or come in later and leave later–72 per cent
   • Telecommuting options–55 per cent
   • Compressed workweeks–work the same hours, but in fewer days–41 per cent
   • Summer hours–30 per cent
   • Job sharing–25 per cent
   • Sabbaticals–16 per cent
3. Rehiring Laid-Off Workers: As the job market continues to stabilize and show signs of growth, some companies are reversing strategies taken to manage through challenging economic times. Of employers who had layoffs in the last 12 months, nearly three-in-ten (29 per cent) reported their company is planning to bring back some employees they let go earlier in the year. Looking ahead, 10 per cent reported they plan to bring back workers in the first quarter, while 9 per cent plan on doing so in the second quarter. An additional 5 per cent said they would rehire employees in the second half of 2010. ?? Companies also indicated that their layoff decisions in the last year may have been made too quickly. One-quarter (25 per cent) of employers said they thought they cut workers too soon and that it ultimately had a negative impact on their business.
4. Green Jobs: Employers plan to continue to be environmentally aware in the new year. One-in-five (20 per cent) employers say they plan to add “green jobs” in 2010, compared to 13 per cent who said they planned to add them in 2009. “Green jobs” are positions that implement environmentally conscious design, policy and technology to improve conservation and sustainability.
5. Recruitment Tools: As employers increase headcounts in 2010, they will turn to a mix of hiring vehicles to find the right candidates. Employers report that they plan to increase their recruitment spend on the following:
   • Online recruitment sites–29 per cent
   • Staffing firms and recruiters–13 per cent
   • Career fairs–19 per cent
   • Social and professional networking sites–18 per cent
   • Business and trade magazine ads–5 per cent
6. Freelance or Contact Hiring: As many companies rebuild their workforces, they are turning to more freelance or contract workers to help move their businesses forward. Forty-eight per cent of employers anticipate hiring freelancers or contractors in 2010. Thirteen per cent expect to employ more freelancers or contractors than last year, while 18 per cent expect to hire the same amount and 17 per cent plan to hire fewer.
7. Less Business Travel: While employers are moving away from cost containment and more into growth, one area they still plan to save money on is business travel. More than half (52 per cent) of employers report that there will be less business travel at their organisation in 2010 than in 2009.