CALGARY, AB – January 6, 2011
Following a year of economic uncertainty and job instability, a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing shows that 46 per cent of Calgarians believe additional education or career training will lead to increased job security for 2011.
“They’re right,” says Sid Mark, president of the Calgary staffing and recruiting firm FRIDAY Professional Group Inc. “Employers currently have the advantage of choosing from a larger pool of candidates with a more advanced skill-set. When there are more candidates to choose from, employer expectations are higher.”
According to Mark, those job-seekers that continue to educate themselves and develop their skills increase their chances of employment and of staying employed.
“Employers have consistently shown an appreciation for those employees who continue to learn and upgrade their skills,” he said.
The same survey showed that the majority of Calgarians are looking for flexible education options. According to the survey, 42 per cent of Calgarians would take online courses for additional career training while 25 per cent would attend evening classes.
“I find the convenience of an online degree program perfect for me because I need to work full-time while upgrading my skills and online courses allow me to go to class before work, after work or even on my lunch break,” said Benita Fleming, a student studying business at DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary. “I don’t think I would have gotten this far in my education without the flexibility offered by DeVry.”
With the highest unemployment rate Calgary has seen in a decade, Mark suggests those out of work continue to expand and upgrade skills while on the job hunt.
“Additionally, our clients tell us that, if a potential employee has been out of work for awhile, pursuing further education in the meantime looks much better to a recruiter than doing nothing,” said Mark.
Leger Marketing conducted the online survey of 405 Calgarians aged 18 years and older between Nov. 15 and 18, 2010. The survey was commissioned by DeVry Calgary to help the school understand the needs of the Calgary population.
About DeVry Institute of Technology
DeVry Institute of Technology in Alberta is part of the DeVry University system, one of the largest degree-granting higher education systems in North America, with more than 85,000 students enrolled in the United States and Canada. At more than 90 locations, DeVry University delivers practitioner-oriented undergraduate and graduate degree programs, onsite and online, that meet the needs of a diverse and geographically dispersed student population. DeVry Institute of Technology offers degree programs in Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technology, and Network Communications Management. In Canada, the government of Alberta grants approval for baccalaureate degrees awarded by DeVry Institute of Technology. In the United States, DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. DeVry University, a part of DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV), is based in Downers Grove, Ill. For more information about DeVry Institute of Technology, find us on Twitter @DeVryUniv or visit www.devry.ca.
About FRIDAY Professional Group Inc.
Celebrating more than 25 years in the staffing and recruiting industry in Calgary, FRIDAY Professional Group Inc. excels in connecting great people to great organizations in the areas of administration, accounting, sales, management and professional. Direct Hire, Flexible/Temporary and Flex-to-Hire. For more information about FRIDAY Professional Group Inc., visit www.friday.ab.ca. Staffing & Recruitment: Mission Accomplished.
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Kara Boley
NATIONAL Public Relations
kboley@national.ca
(403) 531-0331
