As the cost of living continues to rise in Canada, money talks louder than before: salary is once again the number one priority for talent across the nation, finds a new report.
An alarming 92% of professionals in Canada are concerned about inflation outpacing salary growth, with a majority already feeling underpaid, according to data from business consulting firm Robert Half’s 2025 Salary Guide, an annual report examining labour market dynamics and salaries for hundreds of positions in various professional fields across Canada.
Grappling with increasing financial crunch, one-third of workers told Robert Half they’ll look for a new role if their employer does not raise their salary.
“Salary continues to be the biggest priority for professionals, as cost of living remains top of mind,” commented David King, who functions as Senior Managing Director for Robert Half in Canada.
It’s a nationwide and sector-wide problem, with Canadians earning less on average than U.S. counterparts while also encountering higher baseline expenses.
And yet, while salary is top-of-mind for just about everyone, it’s still “not the only thing that matters,” says King.
“In addition to benchmarking salaries, businesses need to ensure they have efficient hiring processes, and that they are offering attractive perks and benefits, flexibility in the workplace, and up-skilling opportunities to hire, retain, and train top talent in this evolving labour market,” he said.
Flexibility includes hybrid work models, which companies and their staff still often don’t entirely agree on. For example, data from Robert Half’s report shows that, on average, employers prefer to see teams in-office up to four days per week. However, when asking employees their preference, two or three days was the standard response.
Data from the report was collected via surveys in June and includes responses from more than 3,500 workers and hiring managers in Canada.
