CAHRC research identifies worker roles and skills needed on farms

Ottawa, ON ‚Äì  The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has initiated a research project to identify and validate four critical roles that span all commodities within agriculture to clarify skill requirements and assist stakeholders in addressing the skills and labour shortages facing agriculture now and in the future.

The National Agricultural Occupational Framework and Labour Market Support (NAOF) project will develop standardized descriptions of farm jobs from the entry to manager levels across 10 commodity areas including: aquaculture; cattle (beef/dairy); poultry and eggs; crops; swine; other animals; field fruit and vegetables; tree fruit and vines; greenhouse, nursery, floriculture and sod; and other agriculture.

This expanded job data will then be converted into a set of tools that connect job and youth internship seekers with farms that are hiring; help farm workers to identify and access training required for career advancement; and help education providers to design training curriculum that best addresses agriculture industry needs.

“This is a unique opportunity for Canadian producers to make their labour needs known and to shape the future of the farm labour system in Canada,” explained Portia Macdonald-Dewhirst, Executive Director of the Council. “The NAOF project will create a holistic view of the Canadian agricultural labour industry and will help shape government policies, education and training over the next 10 years. Ultimately, this will help producers to more effectively access, train and retain workers.”

The research will be conducted via 50 focus groups that will be held across Canada between now and March 2016. The focus groups will examine and identify the knowledge, skills and abilities needed by farm workers to do the work. From there, policies and programs will be created to fill the identified needs. .

All producers are encouraged to participate and can indicate their interest by contacting Jade Reeve, NAOF Project Manager at Reeve@cahrc-ccrha.ca. Travel and related expenses to attend the focus groups will be provided.

Funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program, the Council is collaborating on this three-year project with federal and provincial government departments, over thirty of Canada’s leading agricultural organizations, and agricultural colleges and training providers to ensure that the needs of industry are fully understood and addressed.