Canadian HR Reporter

NEWS BRIEFS The number of suitable jobs available in the labour market is an obstacle faced equally by unemployed men and women in the pandemic, a survey has found. Just more than one in five of each gender cite the obstacle as the top factor keeping them from getting a job. Men and women had similar levels of difficulty in finding the right connections to be noticed by recruits — eight per cent and nine per cent, respectively — according to the LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index based on a survey of 1,841 professionals in Canada. In addition, eight per cent of men and seven per cent of women said they didn't have enough time to search, apply and interview for jobs. Slightly more than one-half of women and one-half of men said they were willing to move to a different industry. Male respondents said more often that they faced too much competition for jobs they wanted, at 13 per cent, while 10 per cent of women said the same. The two biggest differences in the hindrances that each gender faced looking for work were related to experience and education, and when there was no obstacle at all, significantly more men faced no challenges. Nearly nine out of 10 U.K. workers say they would prefer finishing early on Fridays as a perk in their employment, with almost as many favouring paid holiday travel and accommodation, a survey has revealed. Other top desired employment perks are summer hours, student loan contributions, "beer o'clock," nap rooms and beauty budgets, found the survey of 2,000 employees by Sodexo. Four out of 10 workers are interested in paid leave when they get a new pet and more than one-third want benefits that help pay for fertility treatments — three in EARLY FRIDAYS TOP PERK IN U.K. MEN, WOMEN FACING SIMILAR OBSTACLES 65% Two-thirds of Canadians feel that they have fallen behind in saving for retirement and more than one-half don't have a financial plan, according to a survey of 2,000 Canadian adults by RBC, which also found that almost half (46 per cent) say managing debt is a top financial priority. Slightly less than one-half of workers who are working from home during the pandemic are using social media platforms for professional networking. One out of three are attending virtual meetings, while one in four are connecting with former colleagues in virtual meetings, according to a survey of 500 remote workers in the U.S. by Savanta, an environmental consulting firm. 10 say that they would have had children sooner if this was available. Respondents were also asked how much of their yearly income they would give up in exchange for certain perks that could influence their quality of life. Workers would give up the most for food discounts, saying that, on average, they would forego five per cent of their salary for this perk. This was followed by health plans (4.2 per cent), retail discounts (4.2 per cent), cars (4.2 per cent), gym memberships and affordable tech (both at four per cent). 54% Facebook 48% LinkedIn 41% Twitter Remote workers turn to social media Debt tops list of financial worries FINANCIAL CONCERNS DURING PANDEMIC WHO'S USING WHAT FOR NETWORKING BARRIERS TO FINDING WORK • 38% Day-to-day living expenses • 32% General state of finances • 27% Managing debt • 25% Having enough money if pandemic worsens • 24% Value of investments 6% 14% 21% 11% of men say nothing is standing in their way of women say nothing is standing in their way of men lack experience or education for the job of women lack experience or education for the job 16 www.hrreporter.com M A R K E T N E W S

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