Employment News
Jobs Going Unfilled
Small business survey finds 265,000 unfilled jobs across Canada.
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business, April 2003
All Provinces Need Workers
"Vacancy rate estimates suggest that there are considerable numbers of jobs available in every province."
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 2002
Increased Competition for Skilled Workers
"Strong economic conditions, coupled with the effects of an aging work force, are setting the stage for increased competition for talent in Canada's labour market"
- Director of the Conference Board's Compensation Research Centre
1,000,000 Worker Shortage Expected
"Canada could experience a one million worker shortage by the year 2020, but for some sectors, shortages already exist."
- Conference Board of Canada
Future of Canadian Business Depends on Finding More Skilled Workers
Jobs are there and they will be there in the future, if businesses can stay in business. And that hinges on having enough skilled people.
- Toronto Star, February 2003
560,000 New jobs in 2002 - Employment Numbers Best Ever
Fact: From January to December 2002, employment jumped 560,000 (3.7%). At the end of the year, the proportion of the working-age population employed was 62.4%, the highest on record.
- Statistics Canada Perspectives, Spring 2003
Shortage of Qualified Labour in Strong Canadian Economy
26% of businesses in a recent survey said they have at least one vacant job open because they are unable to find people with suitable skills. Two thirds of those vacancies had been unfilled for more than four months. Small business is continuing to create jobs at a phenomenal rate, […] the shortage of qualified labour may actually worsen as the economy strengthens."
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 2002
Significant Employment Gains in First Quarter 2003
Employment rose 2.2% in the first quarter. The entire gain was in full time work.
- Statistics Canada, June 2003
Labour Market Soars in October 2003 - Beyond All Expectations
Canada's labour market roared back to life in October, creating almost six times more jobs than expected as the jobless rate fell to 7.6 percent, from 8 percent in September, Statistics Canada said on Friday.
- Statistics Canada, November 1, 2003
Canada needs Skilled Trades
The country's labour pool - which is expected to shrink under the weight of an unprecedented retirement bulge within the next five years - isn't even close to producing enough skilled trades people, homegrown or imported to meet demands. And it's going to be hard - and very expensive - to live in a country where only a few know how to fix a broken car engine or leaky faucet, build well-crafted homes or make sure the lights come on when it gets dark.
- Globe and Mail, September 2003
Canadian Companies Can't Find Enough Skilled Trades
"Our members are having difficulty attracting skilled trades such as tool and die, machinists, welders and other mechanical skills" - Perrin Beatty.
- Director of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, June 2003
Immigration
Toronto Attracts Most Immigrants
Toronto attracts the largest share of new immigrants - 42 per cent (73,000) in 1998.
- Toronto drafts plan to avert labour shortage, November 3, 2003
Immigrants are Investments for a Viable Nation
[Immigrants] are an investment in human potential needed for this country to remain a viable nation"
- Toronto Star, October 2002
Toronto and Canada will rely on Immigration for New Skilled Labour
The Toronto region will face labour shortages across all occupations and skill groups by the end of the decade. To make up for shortfalls, Toronto will need to rely on immigration as a major source of new entrants into the labour force.
- Canada NewsWire, July 2003
Canada to Rely on More Immigrants
"Canada will depend almost solely on immigrants for growth in the workforce in the next decade"
- Statistics Canada 2003
Economy won't Expand Without Increased Immigration
"Without significant increases in immigration of skilled workers, many sectors of the Canadian economy will not be able to expand and keep pace internationally."
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce, June 2003
Immigration is Canada's Trump Card and Strongest Play
"We're relying more and more on immigration to sustain the growth of the population and therefore the growth of the market. Immigration remains Canada's trump card"
- David Foot, author of Boom, Bust and Echo
Immigrants are the Future of the Labour Force
By 2011, the country will be relying entirely on immigrants for all its labour force growth"
- Statistics Canada
Growth Constrained Unless Labour Shortage Addressed
"Growth will be constrained unless the city [of Toronto] deals with serious labour shortages."
- City of Toronto Economic Development Division
Immigration Key to Fixing Labour Shortage
"Immigration is a key solution to labour shortages"
- City of Toronto's Economic Development Division, July 2003
Economic News
Canada's Economy Outpaces Other Industrialized Countries
Canada's economy expected to grow 3.2% this year (2003) ahead of other G7 nations.
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canada's Population Shrinking
Canada's birthrate is only at 1.5%. A growth rate of 2.1% is needed just to maintain the same size population.
- Statistics Canada, 2003
Babyboomers Set to Retire in Record Numbers
By 2011, about 20% of the working population will reach retirement age.
- Statistic Canada, 2001
Canadian Businesses Expect Growth
Nearly 90% of all businesses expect growth or stability for the coming year, while only 11% expecting a decline.
- Toronto Star, December 2002
600,000 New Jobs Created between 2001-2003
The Canadian economy created nearly 600,000 net new jobs from the end of 2001 to May 2003.
- Statistics Canada, June 2003
High Levels of Immigration Contributes to Higher Potential Growth in Canada
"Canada, because of this [immigration], has a higher potential growth than most other countries. Amongst the developed world, we can expect to become relatively more powerful as far as economic growth is concerned."
- David Foot, author of Boom, Bust and Echo
Canada Leads G7 in Economic Growth
"Canada will lead the G7 in economic growth this year and next, even though turbulent equity markets are casting doubt over the outlook, according to one study done by Statistics Canada and another done by the International Monetary Fund."
- Globe and Mail, September, 2002
Positive Forecast for Canadian Economy and Unemployment Rate in 2003 and 2004
"In 2003, Canada's economy will expand by 3.8 per cent, up from the 3.4 per cent growth rate estimated for 2002. The growth rate will reach four per cent in 2004 and the unemployment rate will fall to seven per cent from 7.7 per cent in 2002."
- BMO Financial Group, Outlook Report, November 2002
$3 - $4 Billion Surplus Forecast for Canada's Future
Some economists have forecast surpluses of $3-billion in fiscal 2003-04, and $4-billion in 2004-05, not including the $3-bilion contingency fund Ottawa normally sets aside for emergencies.
- The Globe and Mail, October 2003
Canada only G7 Nation with $7 Billion Budget Surplus
The federal budget surplus hit $7-billion in the most recent fiscal year, making Canada the only member of the Group of Seven nations to finish 2002-2003 in the black, Finance Minister John Manley said Wednesday.
- The Globe and Mail, October 2003
Labour Shortage Constrains Growth of Cities, Businesses and Economic Potential
"Growth will be constrained unless the city deals with serious labour shortages expected by the end of the decade"
- Canada NewsWire, July 2003
Persistent Labour Shortages Experienced
"One of the side effects of a good economy has been a continued and persistent labour shortage among many small and medium-sized enterprises throughout Canada."
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business 2002
Skilled Worker Shortage Hurts Economy
The shortage is undermining the competitiveness of industry and hurting economic growth.
- Toronto Star 2001
Labour Shortages at All Levels
Labour shortages exist from entry-level to highly experienced, and serious signs of unrealized economic potential
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 2002
Life in Canada
Tool and Die Makers: Acute shortage of Skilled Trades
"The current shortage of such trades as tool and die making is acute and getting worse".
- President of Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, June 2003
News By Industry
Crisis for Strong Housing Market without Skilled Labour for Construction
A strong housing market, however, does create challenges for our industry, the primary one being a lack of skilled labour to build all those new homes and condominiums. Today, the average age of a construction worker is 50, and literally tens of thousands of current workers are expected to retire within the next decade. A major crisis is looming.
- Toronto Star, August 2003
Unprecedented Shortage of Skilled Workers in Manufacturing Sector
"Our manufacturing sector is facing an unprecedented shortage of skills of all kinds"
- Director of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Perrin Beatty
Tool and Die Makers Crucial to Manufacturing in Canadian Economy
Tool and die making plays an important role in Canada because trade is crucial to our manufacturing sector, which is the linchpin of our economy. Manufacturing accounts for 21% of Canada's economic activity and, counting spin-offs such as purchases of goods and services, it drives 55% of the economy. 70% of all goods manufactured are exported, reaping huge economic benefits.
- Toronto Star, June 2003
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