Jobs are difficult to find in competitive and saturated markets, especially on job search sites like LinkedIn, Workopolis, and Indeed. Because of this, job hunting has become stressful for people switching careers or looking for a new job.
According to the Government of Canada’s Job Bank website, the employment rate in Ontario increased by 22,400 in July—0.3 per cent higher than in June—with full-time employment on the rise and part-time jobs becoming less available.
If employment rates are increasing, why are university graduates or industry professionals still struggling to find employment?
Some common reasons people do not find employment include using resumes that are not tailored to job descriptions or inappropriate resume formatting for applicant tracking systems.
High applicant intake, the economic instablity, and a lack of job opportunities in Canada are some other reasons for unemployment.
Canada’s current job market has high unemployment rates, economic uncertainty, and a competitive environment. These factors make job hunting daunting for many job seekers, especially people new to Canada who immigrated here with the promise of finding employment, as Canada has only a five per cent unemployment rate. The problem does not affect only one region or province—it is an epidemic that affects the whole country.
Recent graduates from post- secondary institutions find it hard to secure entry-level positions due to inexperience, and workplace professionals often pivot their careers or accept roles that do not utilize their expertise due to limited job opportunities on online job sites or because the competition for specific jobs is too high. These factors can hinder people’s chances of finding their next role.
However, with the introduction of new processes and technologies, people need to learn new skills to pursue a new career, like upskilling where employees or job seekers learn new skills for a job, and reskilling where employees or job seekers learn new skills for a different job, a trend seen in cities from Vancouver to Halifax.
Job applicants can use online tools and resources to educate themselves on the professions they are pursuing. A popular platform job applicants use to reskill or upskill is LinkedIn Learning. However, the quality of education they receive on these platforms is sometimes not enough for them to qualify for jobs. Economic factors such as inflation and fluctuating market conditions have also contributed to job seekers’ stress since the COVID-19 pandemic. The lingering effects of the pandemic reshaped many industries, leading to permanent shifts in job availability and the nature of work. The changes COVID-19 brought to the workplace include on-site or remote work environments.
Many companies and work sectors became fixed on remote work, creating disparities in job accessibility. For instance, in rural areas, where reliable internet access may be a challenge, job opportunities may be limited. Similarly, remote work may not be suitable for those without access to a quiet workspace.
When it comes to work and job seeking, mental health is a critical concern, with job seekers experiencing heightened anxiety and stress when looking for a new role.
There is a need for accessible mental health services and support systems to assist individuals in coping with these pressures.
An example would be the Canadian Mental Health Association launching At Work/Au travail, a program in Nova Scotia for people living with a mental illness who are unemployed or under-employed. They provide free counselling and resources to those who need it.
Other good sources of resources and support include community
organizations, educational institutions, and government programs.
Employers play a crucial role in supporting job seekers. They should adopt transparent hiring practices and consider the broader socioeconomic factors influencing job seekers. By fostering an inclusive and supportive hiring environment, businesses can significantly alleviate some of the burdens job seekers face.
The job market challenges in the Great Toronto Area (GTA) are a microcosm of a more significant, Canada-wide issue. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, emphasizing adaptability, skill development, and comprehensive support systems to help Canadians navigate the evolving employment landscape.
Also, hiring managers should review their job posting requirements, as they sometimes include unrealistic expectations and qualifications, especially for entry-level jobs.
These jobs include content writing, graphic design, and user experience design since these jobs commonly demand between two and five years of experience in the field, which post-secondary institutions cannot always provide.
However, there are other reasons why people struggle to find a job.
According to Recruiteze, an online recruiting system and candidate database, there are often cases where applicants get interviews for jobs but do not move on with the interview process for many possible reasons: they do not fit with the workplace culture, they are unable to stand out, or they are unable to prepare references. In these cases, the failure to land a job seems to relate to job seekers’ lack of preparedness.
Job seeking is stressful for graduates and employees looking for new work. The inability to find a job doesn’t necessarily mean you are unqualified despite your education and experience.
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