Labour shortages are limiting agri-business productivity and growth and putting Canada’s food supply at risk, according to a new report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
Released Tuesday, the report looks at how prevailing labour shortages have negatively affected agri-businesses across Canada and offers some potential solutions to a problem that is expected to result in 123,000 unfilled jobs in agriculture by 2030.
In a recent survey, the CFIB found that almost two-thirds (61%) of agri-business owners turned to their existing employees to work more hours due to lack of staff, and nearly all of agri-business owners were working more hours as well.
Further, nearly two-thirds (63%) of agri-businesses reported not getting all the staffing they needed, and almost two in three (62%) said they found it difficult to recruit staff. Nearly half (48%) of agri-businesses said they had to turn down sales or contracts due to labour shortages, while 41% have had to decrease service offerings.
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