Workers in British Columbia are some of the most optimistic in Canada when it comes to job market prospects and the state of the economy.
A Randstad Canada survey found that 30.4% of British Columbians feel more confident about the job market heading into 2014 than they did last year. This is more than five percentage points higher than the national average of 25%. Albertans were the most confident, at 31.3%.
Atlantic Canadians were the least optimistic in the country, with most 34% of workers in that region saying they feel less confident about 2014's job prospects than they did in 2013.
As for optimism regarding the economy as a whole, British Columbians are once again second only to Alberta. The poll found that 32% of British Columbians, and 35% of Albertans feel 2014 will be good economically.
"While 2013 may not stand out in anyone's mind as a banner year for the Canadian job market or the economy overall, it is encouraging to see even cautious optimism from both employees and employers about this year's prospects on both fronts," said Randstad Canada president Tom Turpin.
Across the country, those working in executive or managerial positions (30.3%) were considerably more optimistic than those working in lower-level jobs (19.2).
Survey responses indicate that 33% of British Columbians – and 31% of Canadians overall – intend to look for a new job in 2014. Only 20% of those surveyed from across the country think it will be easier this year than it was last year. One-third of workers believe it will be more difficult, while the balance of respondents feel it will be about the same.
Workers under 35 are the most likely to seek out new opportunities this year, with 46.5% saying they are going to try to get a new job.
