Securing the Future

The aging of the workforce is a hot button topic in many countries worldwide, and Canada is no exception. With baby boomers in all professions retiring or approaching retirement, a crucial question arises: are there are enough skilled workers to fill their shoes? And in some business sectors, such as produce, are there enough Generation X or Y farmers to keep Canada’s booming agriculture industry on course?

As younger generations increasingly turn away from the arduous work of the family farm, it is imperative to get the word out about the many types of careers available in the greater fresh fruit and vegetable industry, many incorporating cutting-edge technology and science. So how effective has the industry been in spreading the word about these opportunities? Universities, recruiting firms, and trade associations have been grappling with the issue for some time, so we asked these experts to weigh in on their efforts to secure Canada’s next generation of talent.

Statistical Snapshot
Recent statistics show that the agricultural workforce in Canada is indeed aging. The 2011 Census of Agriculture showed roughly 49 percent of Canadian farmers falling into the 55-and-over age range. This is the highest percentage recorded since the Census began keeping track of these numbers—and those categorized as ‘managers in agriculture’ comprise the highest proportion of workers aged 55 and older in all of the country’s professions.

But what does this really mean? For most workers, being 55 or over is still far from retirement. So while we know who is managing the farm, how many of these operations have a younger generation waiting in the wings to take over? Despite high-tech gadgetry for growers (from smartphone apps to GPS-guided tractors), many young workers do not see farming as a viable career choice, instead equating it with old-world images of back-breaking planting, plowing, and harvesting.

With new food safety regulations and increasing federal oversight, many college students and twentysomethings are simply walking away from agriculture.

For some businesses, however, younger isn’t necessarily better. Jim Snyder, vice president at S&S Forwarding, Ltd., a truck brokerage headquartered in Montreal, has seen a trend in recent years where younger generations are getting into trucking without knowing all the facts. “People think it’s an easy business,” he says, one where “they can make a quick buck.” Such short-term thinking, Snyder says, with a “get in and get out” mentality only ends up hurting the industry, making life “difficult for those of us in it for the long haul.”