A new report says more than 40 per cent of farm operators will retire over the next decade, leaving Canada with a shortage. The report from the Royal Bank of Canada, Boston Consulting Group Centre for Canada’s Future and Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph says the country will be short 24,000 general…

The retirement wave coming to Canada’s agricultural sector over the next 10 years will exacerbate the already serious shortage of workers to fill that labour gap, according to a new report. The report by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) says that by 2033, 40 percent of farm operators will retire, while a shortfall of…

The Alberta government is planning to recruit more skilled workers from Ontario and the Maritimes, with a second “Alberta Is Calling” campaign launched on March 13. In a news release, the government said labour shortages in the province are affecting skilled trades, health care, food service and hospitality, accounting, engineering, and technology. The government said…

Small business confidence in Canada has hit one of its lowest levels ever amid fear of a Christmas recession, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The federation reported on Nov. 24 that the confidence of Canadian small business owners is on a downward trend for the third consecutive month, and their outlook…

New Zealand’s ACT Party Leader David Seymour said they would put work-ready Kiwis receiving welfare benefits under “income management” to encourage them to take up jobs. According to the Ministry of Social Development (pdf), of the 170,000 people receiving a Jobseeker Support benefit at the end of September, 98,900 were classified as “work ready.” Seymour…

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says Canada will temporarily allow international students to work more than 20 hours a week to help address ongoing labour shortages. Speaking at a coffee shop in Ottawa this morning, Fraser says the changes will start on Nov. 15 and be in effect until the end of 2023. The labour market…

Australian independent MP Dai Le has given a powerful maiden speech in which she recounted her journey of fleeing Vietnam, expressed gratitude for Australian values, criticised pandemic lockdowns and urged the government to unlock the potential of the migrant workforce. The Vietnamese-born MP was known for having defeated high-profile Labor senator Kristina Keneally for the…

Australian independent MP Dai Le has given a powerful maiden speech in which she recounted her journey of fleeing Vietnam, expressed gratitude for Australian values, criticised pandemic lockdowns and urged the government to unlock the potential of the migrant workforce. The Vietnamese-born MP was known for having defeated high-profile Labor senator Kristina Keneally for the…

In her maiden speech to Parliament, Independent MP Dai Le recounted her journey of fleeing Vietnam, expressed gratitude for Australian values, and criticised pandemic lockdowns while urging the government to unlock the potential of the country’s large migrant workforce. The Vietnamese-born MP managed to defeat high-profile candidate Kristina Keneally in the traditionally safe Labor Party…

News Analysis Amid record-high job vacancies and low unemployment, wages have not kept pace with inflation and workers are feeling the pinch. Unions are starting to negotiate some of the biggest pay hikes in years, but an economist says their impact on pushing wages much higher, which could make inflation very difficult to bring down,…