HIRING STILL STRONG
Toronto — Though slightly down from last year’s record peak, employers’ needs for workers remains high, Manpower Inc.’s annual Employment Outlook Survey states. The survey of 1,700 Canadian firms found 26 per cent plan to further recruit in the final quarter of this year, 14 per cent expect a staffing decline, 56 say levels will remain the same and four per cent are unsure. For the first nine months of 2001, hiring has nearly matched 2000. Sectors expecting to hire include: mining, transportation and public utilities, education and wholesale and retail trades. Sectors where recruiting needs have dropped include: manufacturing and construction. Hiring levels remain static in most other sectors of the economy.
CFOs SUPPORT ONLINE TRAINING
Toronto — Computer-based training (CBT) ranked first in a survey that asked chief financial officers their opinions on effective methods of delivering professional education to staff. In the study of 295 Canadian CFOs, conducted by staffing firm Robert Half International, 43 per cent gave CBT high marks, followed closely by in-house classroom training (40 per cent), then seminars (31 per cent), tuition reimbursement (26 per cent) and mentoring programs (24 per cent). Respondents also placed value on professional development — 64 per cent said it was very valuable, 30 per cent said somewhat valuable and six per cent said it had no value — but only 57 per cent said their firms had formal training programs.
CAW RE-ELECTS HARGROVE
Quebec City — Delegates to the Canadian Autoworkers sixth constitutional convention voted to give Buzz Hargrove another two-year term as national president. Hargrove has been head of the CAW since 1992.
CALL FOR ALBERTAN TO RAISE MIN. WAGE
Edmonton — Edmonton City Council is asking the Alberta government to raise the minimum wage from $5.90 per hour. Low-income people, of which Edmonton has a high percentage, can’t live on that wage, says councilor Allan Bolstad, who would like to see the wage around $7.
GULF WAR DISCRIMINATION CASE
Ottawa — A Jewish sailor turned down by the Canadian Armed Forces for a post during the Gulf War was discriminated against due to religion, the Federal Court of Appeal has ruled. Andrew Liebmann received a sought-after posting in 1990 that was later revoked, the court ruled, because of fears of how Jewish personnel would be received by Arab partners in the alliance against Iraq. The military had argued it should be allowed to use discretion, but, in any case, has already changed its rules.
MARKETING LEADS TO TOP JOBS
Los Angeles — The fastest route to the CEO’s office is through the marketing department, an international study says. The survey of 160 organizations (with in-depth interviews with 75 top execs), found marketing was favoured by 37 per cent of respondents, 30 per cent considered international experience the best route, followed by finance, the former favourite, at 14 per cent. The study was sponsored by search firm Korn/Ferry and conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
Toronto — Though slightly down from last year’s record peak, employers’ needs for workers remains high, Manpower Inc.’s annual Employment Outlook Survey states. The survey of 1,700 Canadian firms found 26 per cent plan to further recruit in the final quarter of this year, 14 per cent expect a staffing decline, 56 say levels will remain the same and four per cent are unsure. For the first nine months of 2001, hiring has nearly matched 2000. Sectors expecting to hire include: mining, transportation and public utilities, education and wholesale and retail trades. Sectors where recruiting needs have dropped include: manufacturing and construction. Hiring levels remain static in most other sectors of the economy.
CFOs SUPPORT ONLINE TRAINING
Toronto — Computer-based training (CBT) ranked first in a survey that asked chief financial officers their opinions on effective methods of delivering professional education to staff. In the study of 295 Canadian CFOs, conducted by staffing firm Robert Half International, 43 per cent gave CBT high marks, followed closely by in-house classroom training (40 per cent), then seminars (31 per cent), tuition reimbursement (26 per cent) and mentoring programs (24 per cent). Respondents also placed value on professional development — 64 per cent said it was very valuable, 30 per cent said somewhat valuable and six per cent said it had no value — but only 57 per cent said their firms had formal training programs.
CAW RE-ELECTS HARGROVE
Quebec City — Delegates to the Canadian Autoworkers sixth constitutional convention voted to give Buzz Hargrove another two-year term as national president. Hargrove has been head of the CAW since 1992.
CALL FOR ALBERTAN TO RAISE MIN. WAGE
Edmonton — Edmonton City Council is asking the Alberta government to raise the minimum wage from $5.90 per hour. Low-income people, of which Edmonton has a high percentage, can’t live on that wage, says councilor Allan Bolstad, who would like to see the wage around $7.
GULF WAR DISCRIMINATION CASE
Ottawa — A Jewish sailor turned down by the Canadian Armed Forces for a post during the Gulf War was discriminated against due to religion, the Federal Court of Appeal has ruled. Andrew Liebmann received a sought-after posting in 1990 that was later revoked, the court ruled, because of fears of how Jewish personnel would be received by Arab partners in the alliance against Iraq. The military had argued it should be allowed to use discretion, but, in any case, has already changed its rules.
MARKETING LEADS TO TOP JOBS
Los Angeles — The fastest route to the CEO’s office is through the marketing department, an international study says. The survey of 160 organizations (with in-depth interviews with 75 top execs), found marketing was favoured by 37 per cent of respondents, 30 per cent considered international experience the best route, followed by finance, the former favourite, at 14 per cent. The study was sponsored by search firm Korn/Ferry and conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
