Ottawa-The agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing sectors are major Canadian employers that face an array of threats to their future prosperity and a National Workforce Strategic Plan (NWSP) is being developed to counter those challenges.

The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), in partnership with Food and Beverage Canada and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, has launched the NWSP to be a sector-led roadmap designed to close workforce gaps and secure the long-term sustainability of agri-food in Canada.

More than 100 representatives from the agri-food sector will be meeting in Toronto June 11 and 12 to mobilize research, share strategies and explore innovations in skills, automation, AI and workforce development as part of dealing with the workforce challenges.

The event will focus on building the sector's resilience and productivity through technology adoption, inclusive HR practices, and collaborative dialogue on future workforce needs.

CAHRC said that agri-food employs one in every nine Canadians and contributes more than $150 billion annually to the national economy. But global disruptions, rising protectionism, and persistent labour shortages are threatening the future of this critical system.

The creation of the NWSP has sparked industry-wide collaboration, new research and tools that are helping businesses navigate change. “From technology readiness assessments to workplace culture evaluations and HR case studies, we are equipping the sector for what’s next.”

Canada’s agriculture sector plays a role in every province’s economy but differences in the mix of industries, the population trends and other factors create unique labour challenges for each one, CAHRC said.

While no two provinces have the same profile, all face significant agricultural labour challenges today and in the years ahead. Ontario’s agriculture labour gap is projected to increase by 15 per cent by 2030. This is heightened by the declining supply of domestic workers.

Alberta's agriculture sector is likely to face a significant retirement wave expected between 2023 and 2030, with 40 per cent of the current domestic workforce projected to retire.

Employers in every agriculture industry area face unique challenges and advantages when it comes to attracting and retaining the skilled workers they need to thrive.

The dairy industry faces a persistent struggle to find domestic workers with the required skills. The greenhouse, nursery and floriculture industry face recruitment challenges due to the increasing demand for manual labour-intensive positions, exacerbated by high turnover rates, low pay and seasonality.

Aquaculture operations are primarily recruiting and retaining skilled workers due to factors such as remote locations of operations, ongoing rural depopulation, limited transportation options and wage competition.

 

This news item prepared for National Newswatch