There are currently more than 25,000 non-seasonal vacancies on Canada’s farms, as well as about 16,500 seasonal positions that remain unfilled. This is the conclusion of a report by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC).
CAHRC adds that these numbers will more than double in 2013.
"We found that the sector will need to attract almost 90,000 new workers, including seasonal and non-seasonal," says Danielle Vinette, CAHRC’s executive director.
Changing the image people have of the farming industry is one of the ways CAHRC is looking at solving the shortage.
“Definitely the image of agriculture as hard work, low pay, long hours is the case in some cases, but not across the board,” says Vinette.
Vinette points out a career in agriculture can grow into developing markets such as bioenergy.
"We’re in a situation where we are finding ourselves short of tradespeople, of journeymen. This comment is not only on the basis of agriculture, but we see it across different sectors of the economy. Agriculture is certainly one of those sectors," says Vinette.
