Employers dealing with a skills shortage need look no further than our neighbours to the south, according to an October 4 Conference Board of Canada report.
Because of the similarities in language, work culture, training and experience between Canadians and Americans, workers from the United States could make ideal candidates to fill positions in Canada, the report argues.
However, although U.S. workers can enter Canada without a Visa, there is no simple process for bringing them in to work in the country. For example, the report states, the North American Free Trade Agreement doesn’t allow for mutual recognition of regulated professions and trades.
“In brief, employers should, of course, look close to home for skilled labour first, but recognize that domestic sources are rarely enough to meet demand for workers for resource mega-projects,” the conference board stated in a release.
“Governments, businesses, and unions need to do more than simply allow temporary workers in – they must also work together to recognize credentials and eliminate unnecessary barriers to worker certification.”
The study stated that Alberta, which is facing the biggest skills shortage in Canada, launched a pilot program in 2012 that brought in 1,000 highly-skilled U.S. workers to fill roles in that province. The program involves evaluating foreign credentials and experience and a U.S. recruitment campaign.
The report states that other provinces can learn from Alberta’s experience in this area, as the skills shortage is being felt across Canada.
“This is not just a regional problem,” said report author Laura Dawson. “It affects our national economic prospects as well.”
A link to the report can be found here.
