Addressing Canada's agricultural labour shortage—column by Pascal Thériault

In 2019, RBC released an alarming report revealing a labour shortage in Canada's agricultural sector that could reach 123,000 vacant positions, a slowdown in exports compared to our competitors, a growing proportion of university and college graduates compared to those with a secondary education or less, a shortfall in GDP, and more.

As we enter 2025, there is little indication that these issues are being addressed, and questions remain about the future of Canada's agricultural sector, writes economist and agronomist Pascal Thériault, Director of McGill University's Farm Management and Technology Program, in his first column for Coopérateur magazine.

He explores two reasons for the decrease in the number of farms and the agricultural labour pool: the myth that working in agriculture is only for farmers and a gap in young people's understanding of the connection between agriculture and topics that excite them, from tech to the environment.

Read the article to learn how Thériault thinks educational institutions, agricultural organizations, and industry can work together on solutions.