The latest agricultural labour market information shows shortages cost the sector billions and the problem is likely to grow. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council’s most recent survey, conducted by the Conference Board of Canada between March and September, found 28,200 jobs were unfilled during peak season in 2022. That resulted in a 3.7 percent […] Read more
Tag Archives ag labour shortage
Farm labour shortage becomes key issue
Manitoba’s political parties target immigration to alleviate labour shortages that affect every sector in the province
Farmers need more and better workers. That’s something Manitoba’s main political parties appeared to agree upon during an election forum held by the Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association Sept. 12. However, none offered to quickly solve the problem or provide simple solutions if they win the Oct. 3 election in Manitoba. “The labour shortage […] Read more
U.S. farmers eye new tech, worry about labour shortage
NEW YORK (Reuters) — U.S. farmers see the flow of new technologies coming to farms boosting production in coming years but worry about labour availability. Farmers attending a recent soybean conference said technological developments, including new soy and corn seeds and equipment to sample soil, will drive higher agricultural yields in coming seasons as they […] Read more
Labour shortage looms
According to an RBC report, 600 fewer young people are entering the ag sector each year, despite a 29 percent jump in students enrolling in post-secondary agricultural programs. As well, as the rural population dwindles, cities grow and that means more people become more removed from the farm and are less aware of how their food is produced.
Who wants to work in ag?
Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council research has found that Canadian farmers lost $2.9 billion in potential earnings in 2020, due to lack of labour.
Frustration evident in labour report
After hearing from hundreds of farmers, agricultural and food employers and farm workers, the federal government sees widespread challenges in the labour market and few easy solutions. “The sector requires a reliable and sustainable agricultural workforce and innovative technological solutions for the labour challenges of today and the future,” said federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau […] Read more
Frustration evident in labour report
Farmers and other employers reported problems with understanding the labour market and being able to see where potential workers might be. Widespread misperceptions about agriculture hurt the industry, respondents said. People don't consider agriculture at all, or consider it a primitive industry.
Immigration ag program extended
The federal government has extended the Agri-Food Immigration pilot program until May 2025. The program provides a pathway for temporary foreign workers employed at greenhouses, mushroom farms, livestock farms, meat-packing plants or retail butcher shops to become permanent residents of Canada. The three-year program started in 2020, but Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser said May […] Read more
‘Open the floodgates’
Policy-makers and industry groups have proposed a list of possible solutions for the labour shortage in Canada’s agriculture sector: Encourage more young people to pursue a career in agriculture. Convince more retirees to continue working or try a second career in agriculture. Use automation to reduce the need for workers. Those solutions may have merit, […] Read more
