LABOUR AND SKILLS SHORTAGES IN CANADA: ADDRESSING

119 Pages·2012·1.17 MB·English

LABOUR AND SKILLS SHORTAGES IN CANADA:
ADDRESSING CURRENT AND FUTURE
CHALLENGES
Report of the Standing Committee on
Human Resources, Skills and Social Development
and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

Ed Komarnicki

Chair
DECEMBER 2012
41st PARLIAMENT, FIRST SESSION
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LABOUR AND SKILLS SHORTAGES IN CANADA:
ADDRESSING CURRENT AND FUTURE
CHALLENGES

Report of the Standing Committee on
Human Resources, Skills and Social Development
and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

Ed Komarnicki

Chair
DECEMBER 2012
41st PARLIAMENT, FIRST SESSION

STANDING COMMITTEE ON ON HUMAN RESOURCES,
SKILLS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE
STATUS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

CHAIR
Ed Komarnicki

VICE-CHAIRS
Chris Charlton
Rodger Cuzner

MEMBERS
Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet Kellie Leitch
Brad Butt Colin Mayes
Ryan Cleary Phil McColeman
Joe Daniel Devinder Shory
François Lapointe

OTHER MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO PARTICIPATED

Harold Albrecht Jean Crowder

Chris Alexander L’hon. Mark Eyking

Scott Andrews Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay

Scott Armstrong Parm Gill

Jay Aspin Richard M. Harris

Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe Carol Hughes

Alexandre Boulerice Gerald Keddy

Tarik Brahmi Laurin Liu

John Carmichael Marc-André Morin

Andrew Cash Claude Patry
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Manon Perreault Scott Simms

Brent Rathgeber Kennedy Stewart

Michelle Rempel Mike Sullivan

Djaouida Sellah Chris Warkentin

Bev Shipley Jeff Watson

CLERKS OF THE COMMITTEE
Isabelle Dumas
Evelyn Lukyniuk

LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT
Parliamentary Information and Research Service
Chantal Collin, Analyst
Sandra Gruescu, Analyst
André Léonard, Analyst

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THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON
HUMAN RESOURCES, SKILLS AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT AND THE STATUS OF
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
has the honour to present its
NINTH REPORT

Pursuant to its mandate under Standing Order 108(2) and the motions adopted on
Thursday, February 15, 2012, the Committee has studied existing labour shortages in high
demand occupations and addressing barriers to filling low-skilled jobs, and has agreed to
report the following:
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LABOUR AND SKILLS SHORTAGES IN CANADA: ADDRESSING CURRENT AND
FUTURE CHALLENGES ................................................................................................. 1 
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 
CHAPTER 1: INFORMATION ON LABOUR SHORTAGES ...................................... 2 
A. General background ......................................................................................... 2 
B. Data on labour shortages ................................................................................. 3 
C. Challenges regarding information on labour shortages .................................... 5 
D. Solutions to the challenges regarding information on labour shortages ........... 7 
CHAPTER 2: LABOUR SHORTAGES IN THE FIVE OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
IDENTIFIED IN THE STUDY ........................................................................... 11 
A. Sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics occupations ................ 11 
1. Information on the severity of anticipated shortages .............................. 11 
2. Challenges specific to this occupational group ....................................... 14 
3. Solutions specific to this occupational group .......................................... 15 
B. Occupations in the Information and Communications Technology field ......... 16 
1. Information on the severity of anticipated shortages .............................. 16 
2. Challenges specific to this occupational group ....................................... 17 
3. Solutions specific to this occupational group .......................................... 19 
C. Health occupations ........................................................................................ 20 
1. Information on the severity of the anticipated shortages ........................ 20 
2. Challenges specific to this occupational group ....................................... 23 
3. Solutions specific to this occupational group .......................................... 25 
D. Skilled trades ................................................................................................. 26 
1. Information on the severity of anticipated shortages .............................. 26 
2. Challenges specific to this occupational group ....................................... 27 
3. Solutions specific to this occupational group .......................................... 30 
E. Low-skilled occupations ................................................................................. 31 
1. Information on the severity of anticipated shortages .............................. 31 
2. Challenges specific to this occupational group ....................................... 32 
3. Solutions specific to this occupational group .......................................... 33 

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CHAPTER 3: GENERAL SOLUTIONS TO LABOUR SHORTAGES ....................... 34 
A. Awareness raising of misconceptions about many of the
occupations studied .................................................................................. 34 
B. Immigration related issues ............................................................................. 37 
C. Increase the employment of under-represented groups ................................ 41 
1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 41 
2. Increase the representation of men and women in certain
occupations .............................................................................................. 42 
3. Reduce the unemployment rate of Aboriginal peoples ........................... 44 
4. Increase access to the labour market for people with disabilities ........... 48 
5. Keep mature workers in the labour market ............................................. 52 
D. Improve labour mobility .................................................................................. 53 
E. Other measures ............................................................................................. 56 
1. Increase productivity............................................................................... 56 
2. Increase on-the-job training and other forms of training ......................... 57 
3. Increase reliance on partnerships .......................................................... 60 
CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 62 
LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................. 65
APPENDIX A: PROJECTED LABOUR SHORTAGES AND SURPLUSES ACCORDING
TO THE CANADIAN OCCUPATIONAL PROJECTION SYSTEM ................................. 73 
APPENDIX B: LIST OF WITNESSES ........................................................................... 81
APPENDIX C: ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS IN EASTERN CANADA —
ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, SYDNEY AND HALIFAX,
NOVA SCOTIA, AND MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC .............................................................. 87
APPENDIX D: ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS IN WESTERN CANADA —
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, WHITEHORSE, YUKON TERRITORY,
FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA, AND ESTEVAN, SASKATCHEWAN ......................... 89
APPENDIX E: LIST OF SITE VISITS — EASTERN AND WESTERN CANADA .......... 93
APPENDIX F: LIST OF BRIEFS ................................................................................... 95
REQUEST FOR GOVERNMENT RESPONSE ............................................................. 99
SUPPLEMENTARY OPINION OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
OF CANADA ............................................................................................................... 101
MINORITY REPORT OF THE LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA .................................. 107

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