Canada’s agricultural sector is facing a significant labour shortage, as many Canadian farmers retire and fewer people enter the industry. According to a recent report by RBC, Canada needs 30,000 immigrant farmers over the next ten years to address the shortfall in the workforce.
Canadian farmers are getting older, and the number of farmers is decreasing. Approximately 40% of Canadian farmers will retire by 2033, resulting in a shortage of 24,000 general workers. Additionally, 66% of farmers still need a succession plan for their operations, leaving the future of farmland in doubt.
The RBC report states that Canada’s agricultural skills crisis is already one of the worst in the world. Canada has one of the highest skills shortages in food production compared to other primary food exporting nations, trailing only the United States and the Netherlands.
The report notes that the Canadian government is aggressively using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to attract foreign low-skilled labour to Canadian farmers struggling to find farm workers. The TFWP allows foreign workers to come to work in Canada in various industries, including agriculture.
The report recommends that the Canadian government create a pathway to permanent residency to address the labour shortage in the farming sector.
The RBC report’s key findings include:
These gaps loom at a time when Canada’s agricultural workforce needs to evolve to include skills like data analytics and climate-smart practices that enable us to grow more food with fewer emissions.
Recommendations for Addressing the Labour Shortage
Other nations, such as Japan and New Zealand, are rapidly deploying national strategies to tackle similar challenges. They offer incentives to farm operators who become more autonomous or unlock pathways for skilled foreign workers and new farmers to enter their industries.
The labour shortage in Canada’s agricultural sector is a significant concern that requires immediate attention. By implementing the recommendations in the RBC report, Canada can establish a digitally-savvy agricultural workforce needed to make our country a global Leader in low-carbon, sustainable food production.
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