2022 LABOUR & SKILLS SURVEY

INTRODUCTION

CME surveys are one of our most important tools for taking the pulse of the manufacturing community. They provide important insights into the current conditions of manufacturers, their expectations for the future, and their most pressing challenges and needs. They are central to informing our engagement strategies with governments as we work to build a world-class business environment for Canadian industry and strengthen our ability to compete globally.
 
In this survey, we return to an issue that has been an ongoing challenge for manufacturers: labour and skills shortages that act as a serious impediment to growth. This report details the survey’s main findings and provides recommendations to governments on how best to address these persistent and chronic shortages in the sector.
 
Survey participants represented a broad cross-section of the Canadian manufacturing sector, with 563 respondents spanning at least 17 industries. We heard from small businesses with only a handful of workers, all the way up to large, multinational corporations that boast over 500 employees. The survey also achieved broad geographic representation, with participation from companies from all regions of the country.