Labour shortages in Canada’s agriculture sector are holding back growth
Canada’s agri-food sector, which generates “over $150 billion in GDP” and supports “more than 2.3 million jobs,” is facing severe labour shortages, especially in primary agriculture, according to a new CIBC report. In 2022, “28,200 agricultural jobs went unfilled during peak season,” costing about $3.5 billion in lost sales and pushing vacancy rates to “7.4%, well above the national average.” The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council warns the domestic labour gap will grow 15% by 2030, with over 85,000 workers set to retire, threatening production, exports, and farm viability. CIBC urges reforms to foreign worker programs, investment in automation, and strategies to build a stronger domestic workforce to “ensure Canadian agriculture remains strong now and can grow for the future.”
