Ottawa-The agriculture sector faces a chronic and growing worker shortage that is resulting in lost sales, says Jennifer Wright, Executive Director of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC).

The most recent data shows that in 2022 the sector recorded about 28,000 jobs were left unfilled during peak season, resulting in an estimated $3.5 billion in lost sales, she told the Senate agriculture committee.

“That is not just lost opportunities in the abstract but crops that could not be harvested, production that could not expand and food that never made it to markets.”

Canada’s ability to maintain food sovereignty depends on a strong and innovative agri-food sector supported by a skilled, stable workforce capable of producing, processing and delivering food in an increasingly complex global environment.

“People are the foundation of Canada’s food system, from planting crops and caring for livestock to operating advanced machinery, processing food and transporting products across the country.”

Without the workforce that can power these activities, food production simply cannot happen resulting in a serious challenge, Wright said.

The primary production side alone employs more than 351,000 Canadian workers, along with approximately 71,000 temporary foreign workers who play an essential role in supporting seasonal and specialized labour needs.

Yet despite these contributions, the workforce gap is expected to widen. By 2030, Canada’s agriculture sector may face a vacancy rate of 15 per cent, up from 7 per cent in 2022, driven in part by an aging workforce, with over 85,000 workers expected to retire in the coming years.

“This is not simply a labour issue. It is a food sovereignty issue. If farms cannot find workers, crops remain in the field. If processors cannot staff their facilities, production slows.”

“If supply chains lack skilled workers, food becomes more expensive and less accessible. In other words, workforce capacity is directly tied to Canada’s food sovereignty.”

Today’s farms and food businesses are highly sophisticated operations that rely on advanced technology, automation, precision agriculture and data-driven decision making, Wright said.

The sector needs skilled workers ranging from equipment technicians and animal care specialists to data analysts, food scientists and logistics experts.

“This means the solution to workforce shortages is not just about filling jobs. It is about supporting a modern, skilled workforce that will remain to power the future of food production in Canada.”

To fix the problem, Canada must strengthen domestic talent pipelines by increasing awareness of agricultural careers and investing in training and skills development to upskill, reskill and retain the current workforce.

It must also continue to support responsible and effective pathways for international workers, recognizing the vital role they play in sustaining our food system.

It must also ensure “that workforce planning is treated as a core pillar of not only Canada’s food policy but also the overall economic strategy in Canada.”

CAHRC and its labour market research helps with understanding the challenges and planning for the future.

Its National Workforce Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Food and Beverage Manufacturing report sets out the actions needed to ensure the required workforce is there, now and in the future.

Food sovereignty is not just about land, technology or markets, Wright said. “It is about our people. It is about ensuring that Canada has the skilled, resilient workforce needed to produce food sustainably, competitively and reliably for generations to come.”

“A resilient agricultural workforce is not simply an industry issue. It should be a national priority tied to food security, economic growth and sovereignty.”

This news report prepared for National Newswatch