Canada’s manufacturing workforce increased by 288,000 workers (or 15%) between 1997 and 2003. However, this employment growth was not even across all age groups. The number of workers under 45 years of age grew by 7%, while those older than 45 increased by 35%.
Thirty-six percent of the manufacturing workforce (823,000 workers) is 45 years of age or older. Within this group, 11% of the sector’s workforce (255,000 employees) is aged 55 or more. With an average retirement age of 61, the larger part of those 255,000 workers will be leaving the labour force by 2010. Manufacturers across Canada will be looking to replace an estimated 400,000 positions by 2020.
However, the capabilities expected of new entrants into Canada’s manufacturing workforce are very different from those required of previous generations. The level of formal educational achievement among the manufacturing workforce is increasing. In 2003, 47% of all employees in the sector held a post-secondary diploma, certificate, or degree.
Between 1997 and 2003, the number of people with a university degree employed in Canada’s manufacturing sector increased by 49%, while the number of employees with other post-secondary qualifications rose by 21%. The number of manufacturing workers in natural and applied sciences occupations increased 26% over that same period of time. Over 86% of those workers had post-secondary qualifications.
The number of people employed as labourers – either in manual tasks or in assisting machine operators – fell by 7% between 1997 and 2003. But, 24% of these workers also have post-secondary qualifications. Of all manufacturing workers aged 25-34, 19% have a university degree. Only 12% have not graduated from high school. The number of workers in the sector who have not graduated from high school fell 11% between 1997 and 2003.
Manufacturing in Canada will depend on more highly educated and highly skilled young people entering the workforce.
By 2020, 75% of Canada’s manufacturing workforce should be 45 years of age
or younger.
In order to achieve that goal, careers in manufacturing must be viewed as
attractive opportunities for young people.