Canada's Demographic Crunch

CANADA’S DEMOGRAPHIC CRUNCH: Can underrepresented workers save us?

This 49 page discussion paper presents the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s ideas for addressing the challenge of Canada’s demographic crunch head-on.

In general, the article suggests that there is a need to tap more extensively into the large under-represented workforce within our borders - young people, older workers, the Aboriginal population and people with disabilities. However, this pool of people is finite and will not suffice on its own.

Immigration—the enhanced, targeted immigration of talent from overseas—will remain an essential second step in Canada’s efforts to sustain its skilled workforce. Research shows that recent immigrants tend to have higher levels of education and skills than the general Canadian population, yet they tend to have higher unemployment rates and do work that is not commensurate with their qualifications. Language barriers and shortcomings in recognition of foreign qualifications are part of the problem.

It is strongly recommended that outstanding skills in problem-solving, mathematics and science must be fostered in school. Values such as creativity, ambition, entrepreneurship and a robust work ethic also matter.

The article offers prescriptions on action that both governments and businesses need to take to meet these challenges. These prescriptions are structured around three pillars:
• Unleashing the latent potential of the underutilized workforce within Canada
• Replenishing the workforce through skilled immigration
• Enhancing labour productivity

DID YOU KNOW…

• In 2008, immigration accounted for two-thirds of net growth in the labour force, a figure expected to reach 100 per cent this year?
• According to the 2006 census, there were over 6.2 million foreign-born persons living in Canada, representing nearly 20 per cent of the population, a higher proportion than in any other Western country barring Australia?
• Canada has welcomed between 220 and 250 thousand immigrants to its shores annually during the past decade, the second largest intake of people as a percentage of total population of any industrialized country.
• Immigrants, on average, have higher levels of educational attainment than the Canadian-born population.

The consultations of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce have produced 37 recommendations. If you are interested in the complete article, see the attached document.