Canadians are Unemployed Despite Record Job Openings

The Great Divide: Examining the Growing Chasm Between Job Seekers and Employers

London, ON - For the third consecutive month, there were more than 1 million job vacancies in June. Labour shortages continue to plague businesses in all sectors and regions of the country, with "help wanted" signs found in front of many businesses. At the same time, there are more than 1.2 million officially unemployed Canadians and almost half a million additional Canadians who want to work but are not currently looking for a job and are therefore not counted as unemployed.

With record high numbers of job vacancies and more than 1.5 million Canadians unemployed, what is keeping people from rejoining the workforce and filling these job openings?

The disconnect between unemployed Canadians and employers who are desperate for them to come off the sidelines is explored in a new white paper released today from Express Employment Professionals: " The Great Divide: The Chasm Standing Between Job Seekers and Employers ."

The new white paper identifies and delves into 10 common barriers:

1. Inflation and Wages
2. Transportation and Geography
3. Workplace Culture Expectations
4. Skills Mismatch and Lack of Training
5. Child Care 
6. Elder Care
7. Unpredictable Business Needs
8. Communication Issues
9. Work History and Criminal History
10. Health Issues and Concerns

Drawing from the real-life experiences of Express Employment Professionals franchise owners and the companies they serve from across Canada, as well as exclusive survey data prepared by The Harris Poll for Express and recent economic data, this paper examines those Canadians who are struggling to rejoin the labor force and why.  

"For those who are still unemployed and struggling to find employment, I suggest looking into a reputable staffing firm. They should have many job openings available and could get you working immediately. I also think flexibility is key when you are unemployed and looking for work. Taking a position that maybe isn't your ideal shift times, or not in your preferred field, is a much better option then waiting for the perfect position", said James Norris franchise owner of the London Express franchise office. "Employers who are struggling to fill roles need to reevaluate the way the hire, including reducing experience, skill or educational requirements. Consider altering shift times to better align with public transit. These are just a few options I know have worked for some organizations".

"It is often assumed that people who aren't working can't find an open job, but the
situation is far more complicated," Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller said. "There are barriers standing between jobs and those who want to work. All of us need to understand these barriers so that we can eliminate or overcome them as a society."

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About Express Employment Professionals
At Express Employment Professionals, we're in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 586,000 people globally in 2021 and 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com/CA.

The Kitchener Express office is located at 385 Frederick St Unit 3, and serves the Kitchener, Waterloo, Stratford, and surrounding communities. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to visit www.expresspros.com/kitchener or call (519) 578-9030.

About Bill Stoller
William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment 
International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor
supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.