A recent study suggests Manitoba must train more people for work in hog barns.
The study found major gaps in the ability to train workers, especially stock people. That gap could widen in the next few years, depending on how quickly training is increased.
“If we fail to address our shortfalls, it will stifle the continued expansion of the hog industry,” said Ted Muir, manager of industry services for Manitoba Pork.
Two Winnipeg firms conducted the study with funding from Manitoba Pork Industry Services, Workforce 2000 and the Manitoba Farm Business Management Council.
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The study found training is needed for 1,566 people this year. That includes people in the hog industry who want to upgrade and people wanting to enter that job market.
The study predicts the number of people who need training will climb by almost 900 in the next five years.
More hog production will add to the training demands. Manitoba Pork believes hog production in the province could double within five years.
“We have to step up our recruitment efforts,” said Muir, “and we have to be more ambitious in offering a variety of training courses for young people.”
Entry level jobs
The greatest training shortfall is for stock people, the entry level workers in hog barns. There are now close to 1,000 stock workers in Manitoba’s hog industry, but that number could top 1,900 in five years.
More training is also needed for head stock workers and barn managers. The needs vary from two-day extension programs to more comprehensive certificate programs.
Randy Baldwin of Kelly Associates was one of the architects of the study. He said information for their research was gathered from a cross-section of the hog industry.
“There’s a significant gap in the capacity to train stock people at this time,” he said. “The programs have not been geared up to deal with the numbers that are required.”
The authors of the study suggested ways to improve access to training. The ideas focused on developing new programs and expanding existing ones that could be delivered in-house by hog producers, as well as through schools and community centres.
Because of a shortfall in training opportunities for hog barn managers and operators, the study recommended an advanced pork production training program be developed and offered through regional classrooms.
“There’s close to a billion dollars of investment that’s at risk here by way of capital development in rural Manitoba if we can’t address this,” Muir said.
