February 05, 2020 12:50 ET | Source: Food Processing Skills Canada

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OTTAWA, Feb. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research completed by Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC) is providing employers with valuable insight into the motivations, perceptions, interests, challenges and preferences of prospective employees for the food and beverage manufacturing industry.

The analysis targeted four population segments that are facing labour market challenges youth, Indigenous people, recent immigrants and individuals unemployed or having been unemployed at least twice in the last five years.

The research showed that those who are actively looking for employment were significantly more willing to move for a job than those not looking. This difference was highest amongst Indigenous people. Information like this contributes to FPSCs workforce development strategy.

Workforce planning is critically important for Canadas 10,000+ food and beverage manufacturing businesses given the growing gap of individuals to fill jobs in the industry. Especially since labour market projections from FPSC indicated 65,000 new workers will be required if businesses are to achieve the export sales target set by the Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table. The sector is a major source of economic growth in Canada, and the number one manufacturing employer, but businesses simply cannot find enough people to fill positions.

The survey data revealed that -

To form a better understanding of the employment potential, the research further analyzed the respondents who self-identified as unemployed or actively looking for work at the time of the survey. Of interest, those people are more likely to be aware of the sector and have positive impressions of jobs within the sector than the general public. This is in line with other findings that show that increased awareness of the sector leads to increased interest in working in the sector.

The research found the targeted segments are more likely to be predisposed and open to working in the food and beverage processing industry than other Canadians. In particular, the willingness of recent immigrants and Indigenous people has emerged as two promising segments for food and beverage career development.

I am excited to share this research with all industry stakeholders. There is so much contained in these reports which hasnt been seen before. It has confirmed for me the potential for the industry to grow by finding their next workers, said Jennefer Griffith, Executive Director, Food Processing Skills Canada.

The research further explored perceptions and willingness to try different jobs in the meat and seafood manufacturing sectors. These results complement the labour market analysis completed by Food Processing Skills Canada for the same two sectors.

Follow this link http://www.fpsc-ctac.com/lmi-feb-2020-release/ to download the perceptions research reports, Your Next Worker: Everything You Need to Know Perceptions of the people you are trying to reach and Your Next Worker: What You Need to Know Overview and Data from our Perceptions Research.

Food Processing Skills Canada

Food Processing Skills Canada is the workforce development and skills organization for Canadas food and beverage manufacturing industry. Through our industry and government partnerships we provide internationally-recognized resources and programs that support food and beverage businesses in developing their workforce, and people in building their careers. Our labour market analysis and workforce development resources - FoodSkills Library, FoodCert & Canadian Food Processors Institute are training the next generation of people and improving the industrys workplace culture. To learn more about the organization please visitfpsc-ctac.com.

Quick Facts about the Industry

The food and beverage manufacturing industry is Canadas largest manufacturing employer providing approximately 280,000 jobs.

The industrys establishments produce goods worth more than $110 billion every year. The vast majority are small or medium-sized businesses, with roughly 94% of food and beverage processors in Canada having fewer than 100 paid employees.

Approximately 31% of the industrys workforce consists of immigrants, with most of them having arrived in Canada between 1991 and 2010, while more recent immigrants make up 5% of the workforce.

Reaching annual exports of $85 billion a year by 2025, as proposed by the Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table, will require 65,000 new workers.

Media Contact

Jennefer Griffith Executive Director Food Processing Skills Canada 613.237.7988 jgriffith@fpsc-ctac.com

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Youth, Recent Immigrants, and Indigenous people are more highly motivated than the general public to find employment in the Canadian food and beverage...