Express Employment Professionals’ America Employed and Canada Employed series explore the state of employment in North America, including everything from hiring expectations and HR challenges to job seekers’ optimism and shrinking the skills gap. Learn about the latest insights uncovered in a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.
There’s a growing tension in the hiring process: while most employers welcome overqualified candidates, concerns about retention and motivation often outweigh the benefits. This leaves job seekers frustrated and anxious, according to a survey from Express Employment Professionals and The Harris Poll.
In the U.S., 70% of hiring managers say their company typically consider overqualified candidates. The reasons are clear:
- 50% believe they have more confidence on the job
- 48% say they’re more productive
- 47% cite better decision-making skills
- 46% value their ability to mentor junior employees
- 45% appreciate that they require little to no training
But, 75% believe overqualified hires struggle to stay motivated in lower-level roles and 74% fear they’ll leave as soon as a better opportunity comes along.
For Canadian job seekers, the presence of overqualified candidates feels like an uneven playing field:
- 59% say it’s impossible to compete against them.
- 64% believe companies are more likely to hire an overqualified applicant than someone with only entry-level experience.
- 65% worry employers prefer these candidates because they “bring more to the table,” even if the role doesn’t match their level.
Despite these concerns, most job seekers are not backing down. Eighty-nine per cent believe it’s appropriate to apply for jobs they are overqualified for, and 64% have done so in the past, often for reasons beyond pay, such as better work-life balance (53%) or passion for the industry (35%). However, the need for income remains the top motivator (58%).
“Overqualified candidates represent a chance to secure top talent in today’s market,” said Bob Funk Jr., CEO, President and Chairman of Express Employment International. “The key is to focus on skills-based hiring, which widens the talent pool by looking beyond résumés and degrees and makes the best use of a candidate’s abilities and ambition. Without that alignment, the risk of a quick exit is real.”
Read more about the latest employment insights in America Employed at ExpressPros.com and Canada Employed at ExpressPros.ca.
