Skills, Recruitment & Retention
Source: NSFA Labour Market Information Workforce Insight Survey 2023;
- Teamwork (11%) is highly valued in agriculture, emphasizing the need for collaborative and harmonious work.
- Time management (8%) is crucial, reflecting the seasonal and time-bound nature of farming.
- A strong work ethic (7%) is appreciated, highlighting the importance of reliability and diligence in farm activities.
- Communication skills and self-motivation, both at 6%, are essential for efficient operation management and independent work.
Source: NSFA Labour Market Information Workforce Insight Survey 2023;
- Communication, time management, physical labour, and problem-solving are key skills in Nova Scotia farming, valued by 27% of respondents for their importance in various agricultural tasks.
- 16% of respondents highlight the importance of technical skills in crop and livestock management, soil science, and irrigation, underscoring the sector’s technical complexity.
- 14% of respondents emphasize the necessity of operating and maintaining machinery, indicative of the industry’s interest in technological advancement.
- The survey results also reveal a preference for adaptable employees with a wide-ranging skill set and specialized agricultural and mechanical knowledge in the industry.
Source: NSFA Labour Market Information Workforce Insight Survey 2023;
In Nova Scotia, farmers face significant labour challenges:
- 39% struggle to find locally qualified labour, highlighting a skills gap in the industry.
- 35% experience a shortage of experienced local workers, indicating a scarcity of skilled labour.
- 29% encounter recruitment issues due to the seasonal nature of farm work, making it hard to attract temporary or seasonal staff.
- 25% find employee expectations regarding wages, benefits, and perks problematic, suggesting the need for the agricultural sector to align with labour market standards.
Source: NSFA Labour Market Information Workforce Insight Survey 2023
- The most prevalent strategy, at 39%, is improving wages, benefits, and perks, indicating a recognition that competitive compensation is essential to attract and retain talent.
- 25% prioritize flexibility and work-life balance, reflecting modern employment values.
- 23% leverage government programs to support agricultural employment.
- 14% offer more consistent work to mitigate the seasonal challenges of farming.
Source: NSFA Labour Market Information Workforce Insight Survey 2023;
- Personal contacts, referrals, and informal networks are the most used recruitment method, with 46% of respondents utilizing them, suggesting that trust and word-of-mouth are highly valued in the sector.
- Social media is the second most popular method at 32%, indicating its increasing importance as a recruitment tool in the modern job market.
- Government, employment centers or websites, and online job boards are also key recruitment avenues, used by 26% and 25% of respondents, respectively, reflecting a balance between traditional and digital recruitment strategies.
Source: NSFA Labour Market Information Workforce Insight Survey 2023;
- The primary challenge is retaining qualified labour within the local area, with 24% indicating this issue, reflecting possibly better opportunities elsewhere or a mismatch between job requirements and available skills.
- The next significant challenge is ensuring that employees are a good fit within the company culture and needs, cited by 23%, suggesting that personal dynamics and company values and needs play a crucial role in employee retention.
- Expectations related to wages, benefits, and perks are a concern for 22% of respondents, which points to the importance of competitive compensation packages for retaining staff.
