Given the labour scarcity all across Canada, demographic projections show that the pressure on the availability of workers will continue, and with it will come recruitment issues. The agricultural and food processing sectors are particularly affected by these issues, as they are perceived as less attractive workplaces with difficult working conditions. While artificial intelligence and automation are reducing the need for labour, there will always be a need to hire both skilled and unskilled workers. Elsewhere in the world, countries are structuring themselves and taking their place on the international market, with what seems to be an incomparable advantage in terms of labour (availability and cost).
How might this context change? The purpose of this conference is to provide an overview of the current workforce situation and offer some forward-looking thoughts.
