Canadian HR Reporter

CEOs TALK Mary Ann Yule president of HP Canada The tech company is based in Mississauga, Ont., and has about 470 employees C anada's labour shortage is real and there is no quick fi x, according to Mary Ann Yule, president of HP Canada, citing Statistics Canada numbers showing the national unemployment rate for July fell to a four-decade low of 5.8 per cent, while earlier this year, there was an increase of 38,000 vacant jobs, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. "Canada's quickly shifting demographics and rapid pace of technological innovation are altering the skills needed to be successful in today's economic landscape, leading to a skills gap in the workforce," she says. e recent strength of the economy is one reason for the trend, says Yule, but the larger issue at play is the low supply of young workers, which is barely keeping up with the growing number of retirees. And the labour shortage has impacted each industry diff erently. "At a top level, the shortage represents the widespread skills gap, talent defi cit and brain drain currently taking place across the Canadian labour market. In the technology industry, new skills are required to succeed. As technology continues to evolve at lightning speed, redefi ning the way we live and work, the workforce has struggled to keep up, creating a widespread battle for talent." For example, Canada is experiencing a defi cit of cybertalent, in large part due to women not historically being encouraged to seek careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fi elds, she says. "Empowering the next generation of workers begins with better educating today's youth and aff ording them opportunities to learn skills that will prepare them for the future — the fourth industrial revolution." Students who are able to leverage the advancements in automation, 3D printing, digitization and AI, and who take a genuine interest in it, are well-poised for success "in returning balance to the current labour shortage in the long-term," says Yule. As a result, HP Canada has established a foundation for growth and partnership within the cybersecurity and technology industry. "We have forged alliances with educational institutions, governments and businesses to both train new talent and match student demand as STEM increases in popularity," she says. Some of Canada's top educational institutions are doing incredible things in the sector, says Yule, citing Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ont., as an example. e school is partnering with organizations such as HP for a "STEM-preneur" program, which shows students how what they're learning in the classroom can be applied in the real world. " is is a great example of how institutions across the country can be tackling the labour shortage for the long- term," says Yule. By targeting young Canadians and striving to ignite their interest in STEM at an early age, HP Canada is encouraging students to hone their skills with real-life experiences, she says. For example, the company provided T.L. Kennedy Secondary School in Mississauga, Ont., with a technology grant and employee volunteers, which saved its robotics program from being cancelled. Broadly, HR departments can work with consultants to broaden recruitment eff orts and adapt to rising pay expectations to fi ll the gap in the short-term, says Yule. Another option is to adapt to an "on-demand style of business management," she says, by leveraging freelance workers, who are not like the temp workers of the past and can range from marketing specialists to engineers and retired executives working as consultants. HP Canada has also fostered a work culture that emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion, which has helped it remain competitive, says Yule. "Not only does inclusivity attract top industry talent, it also helps our business authentically connect with a wider base of customers. It's just the right thing to do." There's been plenty of talk lately about labour shortages and a lack of skilled talent. So, how are employers coping? We talked to five CEOs from across the country to find out.

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