In just six years time, there will be more than 100,000 jobs vacant in the agriculture industry if significant measures are not taken to adapt, train, and attract new entrants to the industry.
New data from the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC)’s latest report on labour market dynamics, from a study conducted by The Conference Board of Canada, outlines the scope and scale of the worker shortage, and it’s a dire outlook.
The report, titled Sowing Seeds of Change, says that its harder for agriculture businesses to fill positions, in part due to Canada’s aging population and an overall tighter labour market.
“Labour shortages are one of the most serious issues in agriculture because they have a direct impact on local food security, economic development and the sustainability of the sector,” says Jennifer Wright, executive director of CAHRC. “CAHRC’s labour market data offers the necessary insight to inform how we will tackle current and future challenges so our industry and its workforce can reach their full potential.”
The report, which also offers an in-depth analysis by provinces and subsectors, makes a suite of recommendations to attract and retain more agriculture workers. This includes public education to improve perceptions of agriculture, developing and updating HR management practices, and adopting new technology and automation.
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