Food Processing Skills Canada, in partnership with Employment and Social Development Canada and other stakeholders, conducted a detailed labour market study of Atlantic Canada’s fish and seafood processing industry. A survey of 100 employers, representing 69% of the workforce, was used to accurately assess labour demand. Regional labour profiles were created for 12 communities within a 50 km commuting radius of processing plants, using reliable data sources. Over 140 interviews with plant workers, managers, immigrant agencies, Indigenous groups, and community leaders provided insights into labour challenges. The study also included a report on technology use in the industry and international comparisons. An action plan, developed with industry and government collaboration, outlines strategies to address the region’s critical labour shortages.
Currently representing more than half of food manufacturing in Atlantic Canada, with an export market valued at over $3.9 billion*, the fish and seafood processing industry makes a significant contribution to the Atlantic economy, to rural life in Atlantic Canada, and to the realization of Canada’s ambitious agrifood export goals for 2027.
The industry employs 15,670 Atlantic Canadians.
83% of employers faced recruitment challenges.
