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HR Consulting in Canada - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: June 2025 NAICS 54161bCA

Revenue

$3.9bn

2025

$4.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

15,066

Businesses

6,391

Wages

$X.Xbn

HR Consulting in Canada industry analysis

Canada's HR Consulting industry found new opportunities amid COVID-19, which reshaped business operations and highlighted the need to strategically manage HR departments across sectors. While HR consultants' growth is typically cyclical, as they rely on new business formation and employment expansion, the economic downturn associated with the pandemic brought consultants' countercyclical value to light. Although post-pandemic returns to the office offset some of the booming growth experienced in 2020, revenue for Canada's HR Consulting industry has expanded at a CAGR of 0.4% over the past five years, reaching an estimated $3.9 billion in 2023.Inflationary pressures will curb revenue growth in 2023, prompting an estimated 2.3% decline. Still, a rapid expansion in demand for strategic management consulting has fueled revenue growth during less promising economic environments. HR consulting companies have also sought expansion through emerging markets, mergers and acquisitions and innovation. While leading companies have made numerous acquisitions, market share concentration remains low as small-scale and nonemploying consultants have continued emerging.Over the next five years, the expanding popularity of remote work in the post-pandemic era will drive HR consultants to adopt digital tactics for remote workforce engagement, management and collaboration. Demand for HR consulting will inflate among the financial, professional services and energy sectors thanks to globalization and rising oil and gas prices. Low barriers to entry will fuel competition, prompting consultants to adopt efficient cost structures and diversify their services to keep profit afloat. Still, revenue will expand at a CAGR of 1.1% over the next five years, reaching an estimated $4.2 billion in 2028.

Trends and Insights

  • Canada’s HR consultants keep evolving as companies rethink operations and prioritize strategic HR management. Consultants played a vital role during the pandemic and labour shortages, but now face new challenges as the labour market cools and economic pressures rise from the US.
  • Businesses leaned on HR consultants to navigate operational disruptions and keep employees connected. Consultants set up communication systems and managed benefits administration, helping companies maintain engagement and adapt to remote work environments.
  • HR consultants flock to Ontario because of its robust manufacturing presence. This industrial strength drives an influx of consultants focusing on industrial goods, energy, and resources while ensuring substantial workforce potential, especially in areas like Toronto.
  • Competition among Canada’s HR consultants is fueled by pricing and service range. Lower-priced companies attract budget-conscious small businesses, while larger firms leverage diverse offerings and brand reputation to gain market share.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.9bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

HR consultants adapt and innovate amid pandemic challenges

  • Demand for HR consulting services boomed amid COVID-19 as pandemic restrictions rattled traditional business operations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
HR Consulting in Canada
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Flexible work arrangements will foster technological advances in HR

  • As remote work and flexible work arrangements have advanced in the post-pandemic era, HR consultants in Canada will continue revamping their strategies to effectively manage and engage remote teams.

Biggest companies in the HR Consulting in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the HR Consulting in Canada industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

HR Consulting in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Strategic management consulting, Compensation and benefits consulting and Other services. Strategic management consulting is the largest segment of the HR Consulting in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Strategic management consulting balloons in an increasingly complex business environment

  • Strategic management consulting involves aligning human resources strategies with overall business objectives.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry provides advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations for structuring human resource and personnel policies, employee benefits, compensation systems, wage and salary administration, recruitment and retention. This industry does not include companies that provide professional and management development training or those that list employment vacancies and place applicants in employment.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the HR Consulting industry in Canada include Human resources management consulting, Compensation and benefits consulting, Actuarial consulting and Strategic management consulting.

Companies

Companies covered in the HR Consulting industry in Canada include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the HR Consulting industry in Canada include hr, human capital management and actuary.

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 541612 - HR Consulting in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Canada’s HR consultants keep evolving as companies rethink operations and prioritize strategic HR management. Consultants played a vital role during the pandemic and labour s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Businesses leaned on HR consultants to navigate operational disruptions and keep employees connected. Consultants set up communication systems and managed benefits administra...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

HR consultants flock to Ontario because of its robust manufacturing presence. This industrial strength drives an influx of consultants focusing on industrial goods, energy, a...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition among Canada’s HR consultants is fueled by pricing and service range. Lower-priced companies attract budget-conscious small businesses, while larger firms leverag...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Leading companies have expanded and improved their operations through mergers and acquisitions. Consultants have been able to tap into more data, resources and technology by ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The industry faces few regulatory requirements and is largely self-regulated through trade associations. Still, HR consultants must possess in-depth knowledge of employee rel...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Profit growth in HR consulting remains restrained despite stable demand. Intense competition pressures firms to lower their prices, limiting their ability to expand margins.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
    • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Assets (2018-2023)
    • Liabilities (2018-2023)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Average Wage (2015-2030)
    • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
    • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2015-2030)
    • IVA (2015-2030)
    • Establishments (2015-2030)
    • Enterprises (2015-2030)
    • Employment (2015-2030)
    • Exports (2015-2030)
    • Imports (2015-2030)
    • Wages (2015-2030)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the HR Consulting industry in Canada in 2025?

    The market size of the HR Consulting industry in Canada is $3.9bn in 2025.

    How many businesses are there in the HR Consulting industry in Canada in 2025?

    There are 6,391 businesses in the HR Consulting industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.

    How may import tariffs affect the HR Consulting industry in Canada?

    The HR Consulting industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

    How may export tariffs affect the HR Consulting industry in Canada?

    The HR Consulting industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

    Has the HR Consulting industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the HR Consulting industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

    What is the forecast growth of the HR Consulting industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the HR Consulting industry in Canada is expected to grow.

    What does the HR Consulting industry in Canada include?

    Human resources management consulting and Compensation and benefits consulting are part of the HR Consulting industry in Canada.

    How competitive is the HR Consulting industry in Canada?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the HR Consulting industry in Canada.

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in Canada include:

    • Statistics Canada
    • Industry Canada
    • Canadian Business Patterns

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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