Among Canadian employees who say they’re bracing for a recession (53 per cent), nearly eight in 10 (77 per cent) worry any job they accept now could be at risk if the economy worsens, according to a new survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of Express Services Inc.
The survey, which polled more than 500 employees, found 78 per cent of workers believe no job is secure, no matter how well an employee performs, while three-quarters (75 per cent) said job security is becoming a thing of the past. More than two-thirds (68 per cent) said they once felt stable in their careers but now feel everything is uncertain.
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Eight in 10 (82 per cent) workers said they’ve already changed their job search strategies due to economic uncertainty. More than six in 10 (62 per cent) said recession fears influence their willingness to negotiate salary or benefits, with nearly one in five (18 per cent) more open to lower pay. A third (35 per cent) said they’re more open to different work environments, while 30 per cent are applying to roles for which they’re overqualified and 28 per cent are both applying outside their target industry and willing to relocate.
Despite the widespread anxiety, many employees still express confidence in their current employers. Nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) said they’re confident in their company’s ability to provide short-term job security, including 28 per cent who said they’re very confident. Two-thirds (66 per cent) said they’re confident in long-term stability, with 26 per cent saying they’re very confident. However, three-quarters (75 per cent) believe changes in government policies have a bigger impact on job security than decisions made by company leadership.
Read: Nearly half of Canadian employers have a negative hiring outlook for remainder of 2025: survey