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CAHRC report projects nearly one-third of agri-workforce to retire by 2030

Feb. 20, 2024 – New data from the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has found that by the year 2030, there will be more than 100,000 vacant jobs to fill in the industry.

This labour market supply and demand forecast is a study conducted by The Conference Board of Canada, on behalf of CAHRC. CAHRC  found a 15 per cent increase in job vacancies compared to the number of jobs in 2022 that could not be filled by Canadians and residents of Canada.

The report, titled Sowing Seeds of Change, states this is due in part to Canada’s aging population as more than 85,300 people – 30 per cent of the workforce – are expected to retire over the same period. The labour market information report says temporary foreign workers (TFW) will play an important role in narrowing the domestic labour gap. However, even with a projected increase in TFW employment by 2030, an estimated 20 per cent or 22,200 positions will remain vacant.

The report also offers an in-depth analysis by provinces and subsectors, and makes recommendations to attract and retain more agriculture workers. This includes public education to improve perceptions of agriculture, developing and updating HR management practices, and adopting new technology and automation.

Find the full report here.