New data from ASI Research indicates that Canadian distributors – and their U.S. counterparts – are still concerned about possible supply chain disruption and a tough job market.

Despite marked improvements since last year, the vast majority of Canadian distributors (98%) reported still being wary about the supply chain in 2023, with 78% saying they lost an order last year due to disruption. In recent weeks, port workers along the western coast of Canada – including at Vancouver, the country’s largest port – have threatened to strike. In the U.S., where 74% of distributors lost an order last year, 97% said worries continue. A possible strike by about 340,000 UPS workers was recently averted at the 11^th hour.

Meanwhile, 68% of Canadian distributors (and 62% of U.S.) say they’re still hard-pressed to find qualified hires for their companies, and 63% (53% in the U.S.) are concerned about retaining their best workers.

“Finding qualified workers is immensely difficult,” says Scott Hulbert, managing director of ideavation (asi/229801) in Richmond Hill, ON. “Their expectations are off-the-charts. I finally hired a headhunter – they do the legwork and pre-qualify them, so you know they’re serious candidates.”

Hulbert says once new hires are onboarded, there’s more pressure than ever to make sure they stay satisfied. “We as employers have to do more to keep people happy,” he says. “That includes a competitive salary, benefits and consistent raises. People also want professional development and career-advancement opportunities, and they want to be supported, appreciated and listened to by management.”

Click here for a PDF of the below infographic.