TORONTO--(Marketwire - May 14, 2008) - Almost three-quarters of Canadian workers say they
would be prepared to relocate to a different city to find work, and more
than half would be willing to move to a different country. The survey also
shows that Canadian workers are highly mobile, and that 44 percent have
previously relocated to a different city because of work.
The Kelly Global Workforce Index sought the views of 115,000 people in 33
countries, including more than 11,000 in Canada, about their patterns of
travel to and from work, their capacity to move to a new location to find
the right job, and the main factors that would prevent them from
relocating.
The high degree of mobility in the Canadian workforce is good news for
employers struggling to fill positions requiring skills that may be in
short supply in their local labour markets.
"The survey shows that most Canadian workers are very comfortable with the
idea of moving considerable distances -- or to a different country -- for
the right job," said Karin French, vice president and managing director,
Kelly Services Canada.
"This is an advantage for both employers and employees. Employers are no
longer limited to finding employees within their own backyards. For
employees, the chance to move to a different city or country can be an
exciting and rewarding professional experience."
Key findings among Canadian workers include:
-- 74 percent would consider relocating to a different city for work.
-- 54 percent would consider relocating to a different country for work.
-- 40 percent would consider relocating to a country where they weren't
fluent in the local language.
While most Canadian workers are willing to relocate if necessary, 64
percent also say that they would prefer to stay where they are until
retirement.
In addition, only 13 percent of survey respondents say they are prepared to
spend more than two hours each day commuting to and from work.
Workers under 35 years old are the most likely to consider relocating, and
men are considerably more willing to relocate than women.
When asked what the major complicating factors would be in moving to
another country, 61 percent cited family concerns, 33 percent cited
language barriers, 28 percent said children's schooling, 20 percent said
property ownership, and 13 percent said tax complications.
About Kelly Services
Kelly Services, Inc. (
NASDAQ:
KELYA) (
NASDAQ:
KELYB) is a world leader in
human resources solutions headquartered in Troy, Michigan, offering
temporary staffing services, outsourcing, vendor on-site and full-time
placement. Kelly operates in 37 countries and territories. Kelly provides
employment to more than 750,000 employees annually, with skills including
office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, law,
science, marketing, creative services, light industrial, education, and
health care. Revenue in 2007 was $5.7 billion. Visit
www.kellyservices.com.
Contact Information: Media contact:
James McIntire
(248) 244-4305
Kate Samson
(416) 646-4249