The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council has launched a pair of projects that it hopes will help identify and address labour shortages and skill gaps in the agricultural sector.
The Labour Market Information: Agricultural Supply and Demand Forecast Model project will provide an overview of agricultural labour markets and forecast labour supply and demand nationally, provincially, by occupation and by commodity. It will also look at opportunities and barriers to participation.
Meanwhile, the National Agricultural Occupational Framework and Labour Market Support project will develop standardized descriptions of farm jobs.
This should help connect job and youth internship seekers with farms that are hiring, assist farm workers in identifying and accessing the training they need, and make it easier for education providers to design training curriculum.
“Through the (two) projects, the agriculture industry is stepping up to address its labour challenges by better understanding and developing its labour force, by inviting labour market participants who may never before have considered an on-farm career to explore new opportunities, and by supporting current employees’ efforts to grow and find fulfilment in this dynamic industry,” said Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, executive director of council.
The three-year projects, which are funded by the government of Canada, will involve nearly 1,000 people in their research phases.
Anyone interested in participating can obtain additional information online at www.cahrc-ccrha.ca.