The Canadian agriculture sector is currently grappling with a labour shortage that significantly affects productivity and the ability to meet domestic and global commodity demand. Jennifer Wright, Executive Director of the Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council (CAHRC), shed light on these challenges and their strategies to address them.
Wright said agriculture has faced a labour shortage for some time, and it’s just increasing. As with every other industry in Canada now facing severe shortages, the retirement of baby boomers exacerbates the situation. The average age of a farmer is around 57 to 58, which is older than in many other industries. Fewer young people are entering the workforce, and rural populations are smaller, with fewer large farm families contributing to the labour pool.
The impact of these labour shortages is profound.
“Producers work 30 per cent extra to cover gaps due to labour shortages, but this is not sustainable. We now hear that some producers are choosing to exit the industry altogether because of the labour shortage, which impacts productivity,” she said.
The CAHRC is implementing several initiatives to attract skilled workers to the agriculture sector to tackle these issues. There isn’t one solution to fix everything.
“Our organization and partners, like the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Food and Beverage Canada, are leading the national workforce strategic plan,” said Wright. “We are working across Canada to identify gaps and determine how to address this complex issue.”
One key strategy involves raising awareness about the diverse opportunities within modern agriculture.
She said there is a need to ensure an understanding of modern agriculture.
“For instance, over 50 per cent of respondents in our recent research thought the only job in agriculture was farming.”
While farming is crucial, many other roles in modern agriculture involve technology and innovation.
Infrastructure in rural areas also plays a critical role in attracting and retaining workers.
Wright highlighted, “Access to daycare, schools, internet, transportation, and affordable housing in rural areas are all vital for attracting and retaining a workforce in rural Canada.”
Foreign workers have become increasingly essential to the Canadian agriculture sector.
“Our data shows there are around 122,000 job vacancies in agriculture, with approximately 85,000 of those jobs filled by temporary foreign workers,” Wright said. “These workers play a vital role in ensuring our industry thrives. Our industry would struggle to exist without them, whether seasonal agriculture workers, temporary workers, or those on a pathway to permanency.”
Employee retention is another significant focus for agricultural employers. Retention is becoming more important, especially with the growing labour shortage. Agriculture employers are good employers, offering strong industry prospects. There are also non-monetary benefits.
“For example, if you work in the field, you may be fed by the farmer. However, competition for workers across all industries is increasing, so retaining employees is a major challenge,” said Wright.
Additionally, the evolving nature of agriculture requires upskilling the current workforce with more technology, AI, digitization, and automation. Wright noted, “Employers are looking at how they can upskill their current workforce to retain them as new technologies come into place.”
In conclusion, Wright stressed the importance of agriculture as a sector with vast opportunities. “Agriculture is a fantastic workplace, and it offers many opportunities. We continue as an organization and as an industry to build awareness and attract more people to work in agriculture at all levels,” she said.
The Canadian agriculture sector aims to overcome labour challenges and ensure a sustainable and productive future through these combined efforts. •
— By Harry Siemens