Canadian Career Guide

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by Erika Osmundson, Director of Marketing & Communications
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, but I’m
tired of the “new normal”! There is very
little normal about what has taken place
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From
virtual learning and events to face masks
and social distancing, this pandemic has
thrown normal right out the window.
Now, not that it has been all bad. If
we look for the good, we’re bound to
find some. recently held
our Ag & Food HR Roundtable, and yes,
it was virtual this year! Throughout the
sessions, which covered high interest
issues in recruitment and retention within
the industry, presenters shared many
positives. Positives that shed light on
why the agriculture and food industry is
where you want to work, even during the
unprecedented times of a pandemic!
THE COVID IMPACT ON THE
AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE
There has been and continues to be a
talent gap between the number of jobs
available within the agriculture and food
industry and the number of students
coming out of universities that can
fill these roles. Even with increased
unemployment, the agriculture industry
still has demand. For those that have
technical skills or trade experience, the
need is even greater.
The pandemic highlighted the
industry’s status of “essential.” We need
few other professions as much as the one
that feeds, clothes and fuels the world.
5 Ag & Food CAreer guide
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In this time of uncertainty, we found the
general public stopping and noting their
food and where/how it is produced.
EMPLOYER PREPAREDNESS
Agribusinesses held steady. According
to a recent poll
conducted as the pandemic hit, 94% of
participating agricultural employers
felt the organization had an above
average plan in place to deal with
COVID-19. Employees that responded
ranked their employers high in this
category as well (73%).
While other industries such as travel/
leisure and retail services were taking
tremendous hits to staff management,
the agribusiness industry weathered
the storm much better. Only 22% of
participating employers in the
above-mentioned poll stated that they
needed to take action to manage their
staff such as furloughs, layoffs, or
reduction in hours.
We also saw recruitment and hiring
maintain balanced levels. Seventy-six
percent of employer respondents to
a May poll said that they planned to
continue with hiring as projected.
Through the network of
clients we saw this trend play out. While
we saw a slight dip in activity on the
job board at the onset of
the pandemic, employers quickly settled
and actioned to move forward—realizing
that quality talent was available, and the
needs of the organizations and
operations couldn’t wait for the
pandemic to pass.
INTERNSHIPS & SUMMER WORK
EXPERIENCES – WHAT WE LEARNED
While we know there were the
unfortunate few who could not
continue with their internship/summer
work experience as planned, many
agricultural employers were able to
keep their programs going. From the
poll, 59% of employers responding could
proceed with their internship/summer
student programs as planned this past
summer. Another 10% had to make some
alterations, like delaying start dates or
reducing hours.
But one of the biggest changes
was notably that many students found
their program to be virtual! There were
skeptics all-around—students unsure if a
virtual program would be meaningful
and employers wondering if they
could trust students to take on the
accountability of a virtual internship/
summer work experience.
What did we learn? The worry was
for not. The employers and students that
talked with disproved the
skeptics. Students could get value out
of a virtual experience. Employers saw
student’s step-up to the plate and prove
they were up for the challenge.
We don’t know yet what next summer
will look like, but this summer has
COVID-19
AND THE AGRICULTURAL WORKPLACE