Report Highlights Canadian SMB HR Trends

- A significant challenge in recruitment for Canadian SMBs is the widening skills gap created by retiring Baby Boomers, leading to a greater focus on hiring for competencies and potential over formal qualifications. - Flexible work models have become a key expectation for Canadian employees, and offering hybrid or remote options is a critical differentiator for SMBs competing with larger companies for talent. - While nearly half of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses are now using AI, challenges such as the cost of implementation and a lack of internal expertise are hindering widespread adoption and productivity gains. - According to one study, 39% of Canadian employees feel burned out, and 46% are concerned that their job could be at risk to someone with stronger AI skills, highlighting the pressure on employee well-being. - There is a notable gap in AI education; while 42% of Canadians use AI tools at work, only 12% have received formal training on how to use them effectively. - Despite leading AI adoption among professions at 81%, HR professionals also express the highest anxiety, with 62% worried that AI could replace their job within five years. - In response to a diverse workforce, businesses are moving away from uniform benefits packages and toward customized total rewards programs that are segmented to meet the specific needs of different employee groups. - According to Jimmy Plante, the CEO of Folks, the findings highlight the dual need for SMBs to adopt technology to improve efficiency while also focusing on enhancing the employee experience to attract and retain workers.