Labour Shortages Persist as Youth Avoid Key Service Jobs
A new study from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) suggests that many of the jobs most frequently filled through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) are positions that young Canadians are generally unwilling to accept.
The research found that nearly half of young respondents are not interested in jobs requiring overnight shifts or physically demanding work. More than one-third also said they would avoid positions involving outdoor work in harsh weather or jobs paying at or near minimum wage.
Many of the roles supported by temporary foreign workers share these characteristics, creating a significant labour gap for Canadian employers.
“The Temporary Foreign Worker Program has become a convenient scapegoat for a tighter job market for Canadian youth, but the argument just doesn’t hold up. Canada’s youth are not looking for overnight kitchen shifts or work in rural and remote communities,” said Dan Kelly, CFIB president.
“Cutting the program doesn’t hand jobs to youth, it creates staffing crises and puts even more Canadian jobs in jeopardy.”
Harvesting labourers account for about 32% of all temporary foreign worker positions in Canada. Other common occupations include nursery and greenhouse labourers, food service supervisors, cooks, and livestock labourers.
According to the report, nine out of 10 small businesses using the TFWP say they cannot recruit local workers for these positions.
The study also found that most young people prefer to work close to home. Only 19% would relocate to another city for a service-sector job, while just 8% would move to a rural community and only 3% would consider working in a remote location.
“There’s no lineup of young people from urban areas applying for a 5 a.m. bakery shift in rural Saskatchewan. Pretending otherwise and limiting access to labour doesn’t get those jobs done,” said Molly MacCormack, CFIB policy analyst.
“High youth unemployment does not guarantee a readily available local workforce. It’s time to recognize that the TFW program fills critical gaps that, left unfilled, would serve to dry up other jobs for Canadians. Canadian kids may be willing to serve food in a nearby restaurant, but unless there are staff to start early, work late or deal with a hot kitchen, the system breaks down.”
The report noted that 46% of rural small businesses experienced labour shortages in June, compared with 38% of urban businesses.
More than half of employers participating in the TFWP said the program has helped keep their businesses operating and preserve jobs for Canadian workers.
CFIB is urging the federal government to introduce more flexible, occupation-based rules for hard-to-fill positions and establish consistent TFWP policies across all provinces.
“The small businesses that rely on the TFW program are the same ones hiring young Canadians whenever they can for front-of-house roles, entry-level positions, and seasonal work. When businesses close, everyone loses, including the young Canadians who work there,” said Bérengère Fouqueray, CFIB research analyst.
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