While the overall Canadian job market is expected to slow in 2024, the agricultural sector is encountering a different challenge—a labour shortage.
This shortage is making it difficult for producers to meet both domestic and global food demands, as finding skilled workers remains a top challenge according to a recent AgCareers.com Agriculture & Food HR Review report.
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has released its comprehensive Agricultural Compensation Report, which delves into compensation trends across various agricultural sectors. This data is crucial for employers aiming to attract and retain talent, especially through competitive compensation and benefits.
Wage data shows significant variations across different roles and industries. Farm managers in grain and oilseed production earn the highest, while dairy pays the least. Similarly, grain and oilseed production tops the pay scale for farm supervisors and workers, demonstrating the disparity within the sector.
At least 87 percent of agricultural employers offer some form of employee training, with a significant focus on on-the-job learning. However, formal training programs and online learning are less prevalent, varying significantly across different sectors like grain and oilseed, dairy, and swine.
Given these challenges, the sector’s focus is on enhancing retention strategies through better compensation, flexible work options, and robust employee support programs.
Employers are encouraged to use CAHRC’s compensation benchmarking tools to ensure their practices are competitive, helping them attract and retain the skilled workers necessary for sustaining productivity and growth.
