Canadians’ perceptions about job Canadians’ perceptions about job satisfaction and career developmentsatisfaction and career development

OCASI Professional Development ConferenceJune 13, 2012

Co-sponsored by:

2

Agenda

• Purpose of study and methodology

• Research highlights

• Concluding thoughts

3

Role of public opinion research

• Systematic → Quantifiable → Replicable → Credible

• Why you need it

Know where target audiences stand on issues – and how it is changing

Test internal assumptions

Distinguish public views from media portrayal

Distinguish public views from stakeholder positions

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• Online survey with representative sample of 1202 adult Canadians (18+).

• Field dates: November 3 – 11, 2010.

• Questions covered a broad range of issues, including factors driving job satisfaction, job search tactics, role of parents and perceived value of professional career counselling.

• Some questions have trend data from a study commissioned by CERIC in 2007.

Research methodology

Happy…

but not feeling the love

Most Canadians are generally happy with their jobs…

Job satisfaction

Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Somewhatdissatisfied

Verydissatisfied

31

50

14 5

81

6

… and like the people they work with.

I like the people I work with

7

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

39

49

9 2

8

Canadians are generally content with their career path, with no plans to move on.

Job contentment

Total

Generally content

Hope tomove on

dk/na

62

33

5

By age

18-29 30-49 50+

46 48

32

64

25

70

Hope to move on

Generally content

9

Yet, nearly half of Canadians doubt they are being sufficiently rewarded.

Satisfaction with rewards and remuneration

I don’t feel my efforts are rewarded the way they should be

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

18

3529

17

46

I feel I am being paid a fair amount for the work I do

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

21

40

25

14

39

10

Visible minority workers are less convinced they receive the recognition they should.

When I do a good job, I receive the recognitionfor it that I should receive

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

15 17

3242 41

27

11 13Visible minority

Non-visible minority

Satisfied workplaces are

inclusive workplaces

Satisfied workplaces are

inclusive workplaces

12

Overall, the Canadian work place is seen as inclusive and free from discrimination…

Workplace inclusivity

Veryinclusive

Somewhat inclusive

Not very inclusive

Not at all inclusive

3943

13 5

13

… although visible minority Canadians are less convinced.

Workplace inclusivity

By visible minority status

Veryinclusive

Somewhat inclusive

Not very inclusive

Not at all inclusive

28

41

54

42

15 12 3 5

Visible minority Not a visible minority

14

The more inclusive the workplace, the more satisfied Canadians are with their jobs.

Workplace inclusivity and job satisfaction

Veryinclusive

Somewhatinclusive

Not veryinclusive

Not at allinclusive

48

42

24

59

9

58

3

23

Very satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

15

I know my goals… but the path???

16

Canadians are fairly optimistic about their career goals.

Satisfaction with ability to meet career goals

Verysatisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Somewhat dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

26

50

17 6

17

But, few have a clear idea as to how to advance in their organization.

Understand what needs to be done to advance

Agreestrongly

Agreesomewhat

Disagreesomewhat

Disagreestrongly

19

49

19

6

18

Satisfaction with performance management is mixed.

Satisfaction with organizational performance management practices

Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Somewhatdissatisfied

Verydissatisfied

dk/na

16

48

2112 3

19

Problem managers, and feeling under-appreciated, are top reasons for dissatisfaction.

Top reasons why dissatisfied with organizational performance management practices

dk/na

Other

Insufficient compensation

No clear goals/action

No discussion/feedback

Insufficient appreciation/recognition

Poor management/control 31

26

23

15

10

8

11

20

Visible minority Canadians are less convinced it’s a level-playing field.

Opportunities for advancement

I feel others have better opportunities for advancement

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

10

25

37

23

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

169

37

23

3338

9

26

Visible minority

Non-visible minority

21

The hunt – popular tools and tactics

22

Most Canadians have tapped into the hidden job market at some point in their career.

Importance of the hidden job market

Veryimportant

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not at all important

27

38

25

10

23

Majorities say pro-active tactics are important to securing a new job.

Importance of certain tactics and sources when securing a jobVery/somewhat important

Advertised job sources 81

Employer cold calls (by telephone)

Employer cold calls (in-person)

Unadvertised job sources

Submitting unsolicited resumé

Networking 73

59

58

56

42

24

Canadians turn most often to online services and websites for job opportunities, followed by traditional print media.

Sites and services used when looking for a job – top mentions

Nothing/not looking for work

Monster

Workopolis

Goverment employment websites

Employment agencies/job banks

Word-of-mouth/networking

Printed material/media

On-line services/websites 48

30

19

12

8

4

4

8

25

Few Canadians use social networking sites or social media to advance career goals.

On-line tools used to advance career goals – top mentions

Other

Reading blogs

Instant messaging

Professional networking sites

Social networking sites

Company website 28

12

9

6

6

19

None/not interested/Don’t use social media

46

26

A majority of Canadians see the value of a professional career counselling program…

Value of professional career counselling program

Veryvaluable

Somewhat valuable

Not really valuable

Not valuable at all

3427

50 52

1216 4 5

2007 2010

27

…but fewer are certain they would use one.

Certainty of using professional career counselling program

Verycertain

Somewhatcertain

Not thatcertain

Certainly not at all

2216

38 3932 35

8 9 2007

2010

28

Canadians turn primarily to their immediate circle for career advice.

Sources for information about careers

Most helpful

Government employment centre

Career site on Internet

Mentor

Your parents

Newspapers

Other relatives/friends/neighbours

Co-worker/associate 68

68

62

61

58

58

53

2010

2007

66

68

58

65

69

52

47

29

Role of parents

30

A bare majority of Canadian say their parents were supportive of their career development

Role of parents in career development

Overbearing/wouldn’t let mepursue own job/career wishes

Supportive but didn’tknow how to help

Wonderfully supportive

Not involved/did it myself58

43

37

33

19

5

5

2007

2010

n/a

31

Parents can help their children’s career development by encouraging them to succeed and fail, and exposing them to a range of experiences

Roles parents can play in children’s career developmentTop mentions

Expose to variety of careers

Talk about choosing career

Encourage child to volunteer

Help child develop career-related skills/aptitudes

Expose child to character-building experiences

Encourage child to succeed/fail/learn from experience 56

51

39

32

31

28

Concluding thoughts

33

• In spite of having come through a tough economic year, the majority of Canadians are generally happy with their jobs, and like the people they work with.

• Despite high job satisfaction numbers, almost half of Canadians doubt they are being sufficiently rewarded for their work efforts.

• Satisfied workplaces are inclusive workplaces.

• Visible minority Canadians do not rate them as highly inclusive as their non-visible minority colleagues.

• Despite high job satisfaction, the hidden/unadvertised job market is active.

• Social media tools are surprisingly lower on the list of how we find new opportunities.

• On the career front, younger Canadians appreciate the help and support of their boomer parents.

Concluding thoughts