Labour Shortages Threaten Ottawa's Industrial Goals
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Liberal MPs warn that a systemic lack of skilled workers and employer underinvestment could derail the federal government's push for major nation-building projects.
The federal government's strategy to accelerate major infrastructure and industrial projects to boost economic growth and reduce reliance on the United States is facing significant headwinds due to a struggling workforce, according to reporting from CityNews Toronto.
During a Future Skills Centre conference in Toronto, Leslie Church, parliamentary secretary to the minister of jobs, stated that the drive to build quickly is placing intense pressure on a labour force with long-standing weaknesses. Church described a disconnect between jobseekers and industries, noting a mismatch in skills and training barriers that leave workers and employers as "ships in the night."
Karim Bardeesy, parliamentary secretary to the industry minister, attributed part of the crisis to a historic lack of investment in training by Canadian employers when compared to other OECD nations. Bardeesy also highlighted a "COVID hangover" regarding a deficiency in workers' interpersonal soft skills.
While the federal government is utilizing apprenticeship incentives to develop the workforce, Bardeesy argued that universities and colleges must move beyond incremental changes to keep pace with rapid technological shifts and evolving student needs. Church emphasized that while the government is investing in training and apprenticeships, schools and employers must collaborate to align labour needs with actual training.