“Things look really different depending on whether you look at vacancies that require a high level of education, versus those that require a high school diploma or less,” said Rene Morissette, the assistant director of social analysis and modelling division at the federal agency.
But for positions that required a high school diploma or less, the shortage of workers only started in the third quarter of 2021.Article content For employers trying to fill vacancies that require a post-secondary education, the report says their hiring challenges cannot be attributed to a lack of workers available with those qualifications.
“The degree to which these job vacancies can be attributed to labour shortages in specific low-skilled occupations instead of relatively low-wage offers and fringe benefits or other factors remains an open question,” the report says. “Neither are happening, which suggests to me that employers in general are quite happy with the current state of affairs, no matter how much they complain about labour being in short supply.”Morissette said for low-skilled industries, businesses may be choosing to keep wages low and accept higher vacancy rates.
In the fall, Ottawa announced new immigration targets that would see the country welcome 500,000 immigrants annually by 2025. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has touted the new plan as a solution to the country’s labour woes.Article content