OLDS, Alta. – A valued worker on the farm may be someone with no agriculture experience but with a good attitude and willingness to learn.
Calgary-based headhunter Steve Peddie of AgCall said agriculture needs to sell itself as a sexy, high technology profession that feeds the world.
In the past, most farms relied on a large family to get the work done, but that no longer applies. Families are smaller and there are other opportunities drawing children away.
“The children have so many options. Twenty-five years ago they did not appreciate the global perspective,” he said at an Alberta agrologists meeting in Olds where the farm labour crisis was discussed.
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Modern agriculture must either increase the number of workers available or decrease the number of people required to get a job done. That means more technology and an evaluation of what really needs to be done.
Smart, skilled people may look elsewhere for more money and a better location.
“They are going to the dark side. They are going to the oil and gas industry for more money,” Peddie said.
Wages may have to increase to keep good people because agriculture should not be perceived as cheap.
Providing a safe, secure environment where people are treated well is critical.
“If you want to be successful at hiring people and if you have a reputation for being a great employer, it will increase the number of people out there willing to accept your offer,” he said.
The five things people want in a job include:
- They want to be challenged.
- They like to learn and grow.
- They like to make a contribution and feel proud of their work.
- They want fair pay.
- They want to be thanked.
Finding people is the next challenge.
That may include hiring foreign workers but they are allowed into the country only when the employer shows he could not find a Canadian to do the job.
Start by talking with staff and friends to see if they know someone who is looking for work.
Be creative when advertising a job.
“What’s in it for me?” is what people ask when they are reading a want ad, Peddie said.
Most ads request someone from Western Canada with farm experience, but there are not enough people available to fill that requirement.
Consider hiring semi-retired people, aboriginals or people from Eastern Canada.
Distinguish between skills and experience. Given a chance, many people can learn farm work.
Set up a farm web page with a regularly updated careers section.
Agriculture also needs to tell good stories about the industry to interest potential workers.
“Let’s be more positive about the agriculture industry,” he said.
