WestJet voted most attractive employer for third year

Bombardier, IBM, Canadian Solar and CAE also in top 5

WestJet most attractive employer for third year third year in a row, WestJet Airlines has been named the winner of the Randstad Award and taken the title as Canada’s Most Attractive Employer.

The Calgary-based airline was rewarded for its pleasant work environment, interesting job content, training and strong management, according to a survey of more than 8,500 workers and jobseekers in search of employment opportunities.

“(WestJet has) created a very strong image and Canadians want to be part of that distinct culture. WestJet has an outstanding appeal to the masses, mixing fun with their surprise flash mobs and interesting job content and training to help employees reach their career goals,” says Tom Turpin, president of Randstad Canada. “Having a favourable employer brand when recruiting can mean the difference between attracting the best people for the job or being overlooked — and WestJet has demonstrated they know how to get people’s attention.”

The top five companies voted the most attractive to work for in Canada are: WestJet, Bombardier, IBM Canada, Canadian Solar and CAE.

In Ontario, IMB Canada was selected as the most attractive employer while Quebec chose the local company, Bombardier. Within the Prairies, WestJet topped the list and within Atlantic Canada, Canadian Solar was selected as the most attractive employer.

The survey also revealed Canadians’ attitudes around various aspects when it comes to determining workplace happiness and what potential employees deem as important attributes when choosing an employer:

Most attractive sectors: The transport and logistics (45 per cent) sector is the most desirable field to work in, with respondents ranking the sector first in training and second in interesting job content and having a pleasant working atmosphere. High-tech manufacturing (42 per cent), motor vehicle and parts (39 per cent), health care (39 per cent), raw materials (38 per cent) and finance (38 per cent) also ranked high.

Most attractive factors: When choosing an employer, competitive salary and employee benefits (73 per cent) tops the list as the most important factor for workers. Canadians also value long-term job security (56 per cent), a pleasant working atmosphere (51 per cent), good work-life balance (43 per cent), career progressions opportunities (37 per cent), interesting job content (36 per cent) and convenient location (34 per cent).

Key employer personality traits: The number one trait Canadians expect from their employers is to be honest (65 per cent), followed by reliable (61 per cent), sincere (61 per cent), secure (56 per cent) and well-respected (45 per cent).

Gender: Women are more attracted to a competitive salary and employee benefits (six per cent more women compared to men), a pleasant atmosphere (six per cent more women compared to men), and flexibility (10 per cent more women compared to men). Men are more drawn to companies with a strong financial health (eight per cent more men compared to women) and strong management (six per cent more men compared to women).

Age: Both younger Canadians (under 40) and older Canadians (40-plus) rate competitive salary and employee benefits as the number one factor when considering an employer but younger Canadians also consider positions that offer career progression (seven per cent more than older workers) while older workers value companies that are financially healthy (nine per cent more than younger workers).

Education: Canadians with a lower education (college and high school) place a higher value on job security (10 per cent more than Canadians with higher education). They also consider having a pleasant work environment on a higher level (seven per cent more than Canadians with higher education). Canadians with higher education (university and graduate) rank having a good work-life balance (fiven per cent higher than their lower education counterparts).

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