290,000 Jobs Went Unfilled In Canada In Q2

23 Aug 2013

While labour market pressures eased somewhat in the second quarter, 290,000 full- and part-time private sector jobs still went unfilled for four months or more, according to data compiled by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

The results of the quarterly Help Wanted report are based on responses from 3,526 small business owners, who were surveyed on unfilled jobs in their firms owing to the shortage of qualified labour. Later today, CFIB and Employment Minister Jason Kenney will host a Twitter forum (#cdnjobchat) on these ongoing labour shortages, and possible solutions such as the Canada Jobs Grant program.

"While the overall vacancy rate dropped to 2.4 per cent (from 2.5 per), the problem continues to be most acute for smaller businesses," said Ted Mallett, CFIB's chief economist and vice-president. "In fact, those with fewer than 4 employees saw an increase in their vacancy rate (4.5 per cent), while larger businesses all saw decreases."

Saskatchewan continues to have the highest provincial vacancy rate in the country, and climbing (4.1). Alberta's rate dipped (3.4), but continues, along with Newfoundland and Labrador's (3.0) to be above the national average. Quebec (2.4), Manitoba (2.5) and British Columbia (2.4) landed right around the average, while Ontario (2.1), New Brunswick (2.0), Nova Scotia (2.0) and Prince Edward Island (1.8) had lower-than-average vacancy rates.

By sector, personal services (3.9) and construction (3.5) had the country's highest vacancy rates, although both saw slight declines from the previous quarter. Health and education services (2.4) and hospitality (2.8) saw increases in their vacancy rates.

"If you can't find people with the right skills, sometimes you find people, and work on the skills," said CFIB president Dan Kelly. "Programs like the Canada Jobs Grant have significant potential to help on the training front if they reflect the realities of running a small business. I look forward to today's Twitter forum to get the minister's thoughts on these issues."

CFIB is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 109,000 members across every sector and region of the country.

Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1427207