Labour Force Ageing and Skill Shortages in Canada and Ontario

Despite dire predictions to the contrary, there is no evidence that Canada faces a looming general shortage of skilled workers as a result of our ageing population. The authors review the demographic data, examine the age structures and retirement ages of different industries and occupations, isolate the relationship between skills shortages and labour force ageing and assess the impact of workforce ageing relative to a number of other factors that affect skill shortages. Finally, they investigate four "cases" in Ontario - nursing, information technology, skilled trades in manufacturing, and the biotechnology sector.