The province’s fish processing sector is being hit hard by a labour crunch and the problem is only expected to get worse as the population continues to age.
That’s according to a new report by Food Processing Skills Canada which says that labour shortages are going to hit the local food processing sector harder than any other province.
Kevin Elder, who is with the organization, says government has significant work to do in order to recruit the necessary number of workers by 2035.
“The hiring challenge (in Newfoundland and Labrador) is massive; you’re almost hiring everyone that’s currently working in the sector again in another nine years, which is a huge ask for the industry.”
“Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest percentage of its food and beverage manufacturing workforce that’s over 55, which was 41 per cent, and no other province is above 33 per cent. NL also had the fewest people under 25 working in the sector at only 9.5 per cent. No other province was in single digits.”
