Canadian job seekers may need a confidence boost when it comes to setting their salary, suggests new research from global staffing firm Robert Half. One-third of professionals surveyed (33 per cent) tried to negotiate a higher salary with their last employment offer, falling one point from a similar survey in 2018.

A separate survey finds many employers are willing to make a deal with candidates: 65 percent of senior managers said they expect some back-and-forth on salary. More than half are more open to negotiating compensation (53 per cent) and non-monetary perks and benefits (56 per cent) than they were a year ago.

Workers were asked, "Thinking of your last job offer, did you try to negotiate for higher pay?" Their responses:

Yes 33%

No 67%
    100%

Senior managers were asked, "When hiring staff, do you expect candidates to negotiate salary?" Their responses:

Yes 65%

No 35%
    100%

"Professionals today have more negotiating power than they realize," said Greg Scileppi, president of Robert Half, International Staffing Operations. "As companies struggle to find talent in the current market, many are open to adjusting the pay and benefits offered to top candidates."

"Managers and job seekers alike should approach compensation negotiations as an inevitable part of the hiring process," added Scileppi. "Outside resources like staffing firms or industry reports can help both parties gain clarity around salary and benefits expectations to confidently navigate these conversations."