Labour Market Information
There is widespread recognition that traditional Canadian sources for agriculture labour are proving inadequate. CAHRC’s Labour Market Information on Recruitment and Retention Report reveals that Canada’s primary agricultural producers expect to require an additional 50,000 non-seasonal and 38,000 seasonal workers by the year 2013. The research also suggests that future employment needs will vary by geographic region, by commodity and by occupation. The report is based on statistical analysis from Canada’s Labour Force Survey, in addition to surveys of more than 550 farm employers with annual receipts of more than $100,000 about their current and future human resource requirements.
A presentation of the research findings has been created for use by the Council’s agriculture and education partners. An LMI Factsheet and Executive Summary of the final report have also been prepared to serve as quick reference guides on the research findings and recommendations.
Following the LMI research, thirteen farm operations were interviewed to profile the HR strategies that these employers have found to be successful when attracting and retaining workers, and explain their ongoing HR challenges. A summary of these interviews, as well as the resulting individual profiles, are outlined in the Farm Profile Summative Report.
Gathering labour market information helps CAHRC understand and explain the nature and scope of the HR challenges being faced by agriculture today—and the issues that are anticipated in the near future. Research results also provide valuable baseline data that will be used by the Council and its partners to develop a better way to collect, survey, and track the ongoing employment needs of farmers, and develop tools and resources to meet those needs.
Labour Market Information Research on Canada’s smaller farms
The Council is now collecting labour market information on human resource issues and skills requirements from smaller operations with annual revenues under $100,000. These farms number in the thousands and represent more than 65% of Canada’s agriculture operations.
Data will be gathered from October 2009 through October 2010 through statistical review and analysis, consultations with farmers, and their farm organizations. The results will augment the information gathered in the 2008 labour market information study. Details of this new project have been explained in a project backgrounder.