Better Positioned to Combat Plummeting Unemployment Rate
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 20, 2007 - Canadian small and medium-sized businesses currently engaged in global trade are twice as likely to anticipate expansion to their workforce as their non-importing, non-exporting counterparts, says a recent study.
According to the UPS Business MonitorSM Canada, almost one-third of Canada's small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) intend to increase their workforce in the coming year. However, SMBs that currently import and export are more than twice as likely to foresee near future expansion to their staff.
"The data clearly shows the positive effect global commerce has on the growth prospects of Canadian businesses," said Amgad Shehata, vice president of public affairs at UPS Canada. "The more a business expands beyond the limits of its domestic market, the more assertive it becomes on its short and long-term growth opportunities."
Recruitment and retention strategies are top of mind for SMBs and 61 per cent have already implemented policies attractive to employees, such as flexible working hours and parental leave. Half of these SMBs implemented these policies specifically with the goal of recruiting women.
Many business owners believe government should provide them with a leg up by subsidizing initiatives that would help recruit and retain valuable staff. More than half of SMBs believe the two most critical things the government could do to help them would be to provide wage subsidies and training funds for new hires.
SMBs currently involved in global trade say they want the government to put more money into economic research and development so that they can realize greater growth potential.
The UPS Business MonitorSM Canada study was conducted by TNS Canadian Facts on behalf of UPS Canada between March and April 2007. Research involved surveying 637 strategic decision-makers in Canadian SMBs throughout the country in both English and French. The overall margin of error is +/- 3.9 per cent. To view a copy of he entire survey, go to www.ups.com/cbm.
UPS, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2007, is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS) and the company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
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