A recent report from the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters found that the Canadian economy lost $13 billion over the last year alone due to a nationwide labour and skill shortage in the manufacturing sector.
The labour survey featuring 563 manufacturers in 17 industries found almost two thirds have either lost or turned down contracts and experienced production delays due to a lack of workers.
It also states that 43% of companies have either postponed or cancelled capital projects because of the shortages.
Quinte Economic Development Commission CEO Chris King says the shortage is being felt in the Quinte region as well.
“We talk to our manufacturers on a regular basis and many of them report that they’re not able to fully staff their operations which means there could be one of the production lines that isn’t operating when they should be operating,” King tells Quinte News. “So you lose the revenue and the income and the taxation – everything that goes along with having that production line working.”
King says he is aware of “100s if not 1000s” of jobs that are being unfilled in the area.
There are different ways that the shortage is being addressed.
“We have a program in partnership with Loyalist College called Elevate Plus where we train people with barriers to employment to be ready to work in the manufacturing sector.” King said.
“Everyone that completes that four week program, that’s no cost to the participant, gets a full-time permanent job in the manufacturing sector. So that’s a great program.”
King also highlighted the Proudly Made in Quinte program which promotes products made in the Quinte Region.
In the national report, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters said more than 80% of respondents reported facing a labour or skills shortage.
That is up from 60% in 2020 and 39% in 2016.
