A new immigration stream will help people in the ag industry access the talent they need
The Saskatchewan government is introducing a measure to help address the labour shortage in the province’s ag industry.
To put the ag labour gap into context, in 2017 the province’s ag sector had 1,600 job vacancies which cost the industry $574 million, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) says.
By 2029, the province will have to fill 12,300 more jobs than the domestic labour force can fill.
“Unless Saskatchewan can find alternative sources of domestic or foreign labour, the growth potential of one of its vital sectors and its key contribution to Canada’s grain and oilseed industry will be at risk,” the CAHRC adds.
The provincial government is trying to address foreign labour challenges through a new immigration stream under the Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP).
The Agriculture Talent pathway is open to workers who have a SINP-approved job offer in Saskatchewan and intend to permanently live in the province.
Livestock labourers, harvesting labourers, butchers and other ag occupations are eligible through the stream.
This initiative is about supporting farmers and the overall ag sector, said Agriculture Minister David Marit.
"Labour shortages are a constraint to growth for agricultural producers, and by supporting them in filling critical jobs through this new pathway, we will strengthen the agricultural sector and enable producers to meet growing demands,” he said in a statement.
Saskatchewan isn’t as dependent on foreign ag labour when compared to national numbers.
Only about 1.6 per cent of the province’s ag workforce is foreign workers, the CAHRC said. This is compared to about 17 per cent across all Canadian ag.
The CAHRC estimates Sask.’s grain industry will have 5,400 job vacancies by 2029 and the beef sector will have a 3,250-person labour gap by that time.
People looking to work in agriculture can also view job listings on AgCareers.com.