Canadian HR Reporter Weekly

2 Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2018 CANADIAN HR REPORTER WEEKLY To identify some of the recruitment issues facing Canada's trucking industry, the federal government is doling out $2.8 million for a labour market intelligence study. e last industry-validated study for the trucking and logistics sector was in 2011, according to Véronique Simard, press secretary for Labour Minister Patty Hajdu, in Ottawa. "With economies changing globally, it is vital to have updated sectoral intelligence to inform workers, industry and post-secondary education institutions of new opportunities and a changing work environment," e funds will be used to help those in the industry — which employs about 500,000 Canadians — better understand the realities of trucking in the country. "e sectoral intelligence study will be conducted over the course of about 30 months and will increase the ability of trucking and logistics employers to recruit and retain qualified employees," she said. e funds fall under the auspices of the federal government's Sectoral Initiatives Program (SIP), said Simard. "e SIP's mandate is to help industry identify, forecast and address their human resources and skills issues. ere is a high level of uncertainty and fear of automation and the changing nature of work in the trucking industry, especially for blue-collar workers." e organization Trucking HR Canada will be the lead participant in the labour market intelligence study and drive the project forward. "We clearly need some updated information with regards to where the shortages are, the changing skills that are required, the different types of occupations that are emerging," said Angela Splinter, CEO at Trucking HR Canada in Ottawa. "We have new technologies (and) so many things happening in our industry so, obviously, we need to stay on top of that. And this project will enable us to do that." First steps for the industry group will be to identify the experts who will prepare the study, she said. "We're engaging with economists and people who have those research skills to help us prepare for the research component, and we're also staffing up to make sure that we've got everyone that we need to ensure that we're meeting the needs of industry as we move forward." One of the main goals for the association is to paint a more accurate and updated picture of the makeup of employees in the trade, she said. "We want to have a better understanding of some of the demographics within our workforce. For example, we know that a driver today is seven-and-a-half years older than the average Canadian worker… but that's 2011 data." As well, the group wants to know just how big of an impact technology is having on the industry. "We're seeing a real need within our industry for more IT workers as we're looking at data analytics and some of the technology changes that are happening," said Splinter. "We just want to probe what those needs are so we can better help employers in meeting that." Labour shortage One of the biggest challenges is finding enough people to fill jobs, said Splinter. "Every fleet is struggling to find drivers. ere are unseated trucks, there is freight that is being turned away, business is being turned down because they don't necessarily have all of the people in order to get the work done." Trucking industry looks for answers with new market intelligence study Government funding of $2.8 million to focus on recruitment challenges BY JOHN DUJAY Sign up for the Canadian HR Newswire today for free and enjoy great content from the publishers of Canadian HR Reporter. HR News at Your Fingertips THE LATEST NEWS THE BEST COMMENTARY DELIVERED WEEKLY FOR READING ON ANY DEVICE Visit www.hrreporter.com/ canadian-hr-newswire

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