The face of our workforce is changing
Census data from 2001 shows that immigrants represented almost 70% of the total growth of the labour force over the previous decade. Statistics Canada predicts that by 2011, immigration could account for virtually all of our country’s labour force growth.
To succeed in the future, Canadian businesses will need to hire immigrants to meet workforce needs. Companies that can increase the diversity of their workforce today will be prepared as our country begins to rely on immigrants to fuel both population and workforce growth.
Here are some of the reasons Canada’s population and its workforce are undergoing a seismic shift that will affect every employer:
- Aging baby boomers are moving toward retirement.
- Lower birth rates are leading to fewer young people entering the workforce.
- Demand is increasing for more highly educated and skilled workers.
For London region employers these demographic and workforce changes have already had impact:
- Attracting and retaining skilled workers is more difficult than in the past.
- Job vacancies take longer to fill.
- The traditional methods for attracting skilled employees are no longer working.
