Why Ontario Employers Are Losing Good People

And what the data says employers can do about it.

Let’s be honest. If you’re running a business in Ontario right now, you’ve probably had at least one conversation about employee engagement. Maybe you’ve run a survey. Maybe your team filled it out, waited for something to change… and then nothing did.

That’s not just frustrating. It’s a slow-moving retention problem that many organizations are dealing with right now.

The Data Is Clear — Engagement Is Stalling

Across Canada, employee engagement remains low. Research shows that only a small portion of employees feel truly connected to their work, while stress levels continue to rise and confidence in leadership remains limited.

21%Engaged employees

40%Higher stress

58%Career growth satisfaction

23%Strong leadership coaching

In Ontario specifically, challenges like career stagnation, lack of recognition, and rising workplace pressure continue to impact retention.

The Real Problem Isn’t Feedback — It’s Follow-Through

Employees are not unwilling to share their feedback. The problem is what happens afterward.

Too often, surveys are completed, insights are gathered, and then… nothing changes. Over time, employees stop believing that their voice matters.

When employees feel heard but don’t see action, trust erodes — and engagement drops with it.

This gap between listening and acting is one of the biggest drivers of disengagement today.

What Actually Improves Engagement

Organizations that see real improvements in engagement focus on more than just collecting feedback. They build systems that turn feedback into visible action.

This includes ongoing feedback loops, stronger leadership support, and clear communication around what is changing and why.

How Job Skills Helps Employers Close the Gap

Job Skills works with employers across Ontario to help turn employee feedback into meaningful change. Their approach focuses on understanding your workforce, identifying key issues, and supporting leadership teams with clear next steps.

Customized surveysDesigned around your team and your goals.

Actionable reportingClear insights that support decision-making.

Confidential processEncouraging honest and useful feedback.

Leadership supportHelping managers take meaningful action.

By connecting feedback directly to action, organizations can strengthen trust, improve engagement, and retain the people they rely on most.

Ready to Turn Feedback Into Action?

Learn how Job Skills can help your organization build a stronger, more engaged workforce.

Explore Employee Engagement Surveys