Retirement and Labour Shortages in Canada
According to the Retirement Wave Study (2003) thousands of aging baby boomers will be approaching retirement during the next decade. While they will have a significant impact on the labour force, not all industries will be affected at the same time. Education will likely be one of the first industries to feel the retirement crunch. Managers and professionals, particularly those in education and health care, will lead the upcoming retirement wave. (Statistics Canada, February 2003).
Labour shortages in Canada
While shortages are expected to arise in the majority of the occupational areas, there are 5 areas that seem to be poised for the most severe shortages:
•Business, finance and administration
•Health occupations
•Trades, transport and equipment operators & related occupations
•Occupations specific to the primary industry (especially in oil, gas, mining, and fisheries)
•Occupations specific to processing, manufacturing & utilities
Occupations expected to experience NO labour shortages in Canada (by 2015):
•Mechanical engineers
•Computer engineers
•Software engineers
•Lawyers
•University professors
•Editors
•Professional occupations in public relations and communications
•Reccommodation service managers
•Real estate agents and salespersons