Employment Minister Jason Kenney told a skills summit last week that one of Canada’s greatest future economic challenges will be a shortage of skilled workers. The conference held in Toronto brought together stakeholders to discuss the labour market, employee training and those under-represented in the labour force.

It’s necessary that an “informed national discussion” take place about the condition of Canada’s labour market, in order to address future skills gaps, Kenney said.

While it’s not a market-wide issue, skills shortages are looming in specific sectors. The construction, mining and petroleum sectors are examples of industries that will face serious shortages of skilled workers over the next decade, he said.

According to Skills Canada, an estimated one million skilled trade workers will be needed by 2020. Stephen Cryne, head of the Canadian Employee Relocation Council, said discussions about skills shortages are often short-sighted.

In 2012, a McKinsey Global Institute report estimated that by 2020 the global economy could see 90 to 95 million more low-skilled workers than employers will need. This projection highlights the need to compete for workers on an international level, while increasing the mobility of workers within Canada.

Source: The Leader Post