CED

March 2014

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32 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | March 2014 A Closer Look The boom is being blamed for the bust – the bust in Canada's skilled labor force, that is. The boom to which we refer is the storied Baby Boom. Many labor experts maintain that, with the first wave of Baby Boomers hitting retirement age and leaving jobs that many held for 40 years, there aren't enough new recruits coming into the system to fill the vacancies. The shortage in Ontario alone could reach 100,000 workers in five years. "A skilled labor shortage is a real threat to our long-term economic health," says Sean Strickland, CEO of the Ontario Construction Secretariat. "A growing labor force is one of the foundations of economic prosperity." Although inconsistent depending on the trade in ques- tion and region of the country, worker shortages are clearly documented and have been raised by many respected individuals and institutions, from Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC). Referring to the PM's pronouncement that lack of skilled workers is the biggest challenge facing the country today, the CCC has echoed the concern, calling on employers and policy-makers to stay focused on the issue in order to counteract the shortages affecting Canada's growth. The chamber was joined in a recent statement by 16 influential, national organizations representing labor- deficient industries, including Associated Equipment Distributors. Rick Van Exan, vice president of marketing at Toromont Industries, Inc., as well as an AED officer and regional director for the Eastern Canada Region, says the construction industry is working through its associations and by other means to help meet the growing need for new skilled workers. At Toromont, the Cat dealer covering Ontario and parts of Atlantic Canada, Van Exan explained his company's main concern is maintaining an ongoing supply of licensed mechanics. Toromont employs about 800 mechanics in the region, who earn an average of $100,000 a year; each new recruit requires about 18 months of education in the trade, followed by a four-year apprenticeship. "We're getting by for the time being, but difficulties in getting qualified people are going to increase as major projects come on line." Former federal cabinet minister Perrin Beatty, CCC president and CEO, notes there are those who claim the skills gap isn't real. However, many Canadian businesses representing all sectors and all regions continue to main- tain they can't find the right people to fill various vacancies. "Competition to hire qualified professionals is intense," Beatty observed. Compounding the issue is that it's not always about money; many skilled Canadians would rather not work in remote locations or on rotation, two character- istics of many resources-based jobs. To lure the tradespeople they need, some big compa- nies are pulling out all the stops in laying on the perks, including housing complexes with indoor golf, gyms and in-house movie theatres. Meanwhile, wages of some oil and gas workers on Canadian projects have been pushed up to 60 percent higher than their counterparts in the U.S., according to labor data available in both countries. The dearth of workers for Canadian Oil Sands and mining projects will be exacerbated by a new wave of infrastructure construction to enable gas exports. Anyone Want a Job? Anyone at All? (continued on page 34) Facing a nationwide dearth in candidates to fill skilled trades jobs – even just warm bodies to apply – Canadian employers, including dealers, look beyond borders to patch critical vacancies. BY TOM VAN DUSEN JR.

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