Summit Search Group has a proven record of recruiting success in the agriculture sector, with recruitment services for industries including food and beverage processing, animal health and production, agricultural equipment and technology, grain and commodities, and more.
Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a key driver of economic growth employing over two million Canadians. With the Canadian labour force at just around 16.5 million, that means agriculture and agri-food employs 1 in 8 Canadian workers.
The agriculture industry encompasses many forms of work other than farm labour. As a recruitment agency with an executive search emphasis, Summit Search Group can connect your team with truly outstanding candidates for all levels of your business, leveraging our insights into the Canadian job market for the growth of your company.
Our strong industry connections and grassroots approach positions Summit Search Group as a valuable partner in the enhancement of your People Resources. We provide professional recruitment services in all areas of agriculture filling positions in management, sales, marketing, operations, technicians, accounting, financial management and executive office.
Summit Search Group is a leading national professional recruitment firm committed to helping great employers hire smart, motivated people to advance both the bottom line and individual career goals.
SSG fosters a collaborative culture that drives positive business results. The work ethic at Summit can be summed up in one word: tenacious. We sort, sift and dig through our professional networks, our industry connections and our customized database of qualified candidates with a single purpose: to find the best candidates for our clients. Over nearly two decades, we’ve developed a process that relies on:
We’re constantly refining our processes to meet and exceed expectations. This gives us a competitive edge that sets us apart from the rest, and we’ve earned the role of the trusted partner from our clients.
The farms, ranches, and fisheries of Canada comprise one of the largest contributions of agricultural products in the world. Recruitment considerations in agriculture are as varied and complex as the industry itself, but this week’s Industry Spotlight should provide a useful primer.
Availability of Labour
We’ve discussed the topic of labour shortage regarding other industries such as manufacturing and construction, and unfortunately, it holds true for agriculture as well. The farm labour gap is an issue that any agricultural business in Canada is prone to contend with today, and the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council has reported that it’s even projected to worsen as time goes on. As a significant portion of Canada’s agricultural workforce lies within the baby boomer generation, an important generational shift is happening, and your company will need to know how to account for it and prepare accordingly.
Meeting Expectations
The standards of today’s up and coming workforce are not always easy to meet, and the worker shortage has made the agricultural talent market something of a dog-eat-dog world. Candidates will be looking for wages that they find to be fair for the amount of physical labor involved, and they will also be seeking out businesses who have revamped the standards of quality in their workplace with regards to safety and other key issues. Don’t forget that your industry encompasses many forms of work other than farm labour, including IT, engineering, and others, so it should be clear that there is room for growth and diversification of skillset at your business.
Your Strategy
Agriculture has often made up for the labour gap by sourcing via the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, but this does not fully address the need for more tenured talent. It’s therefore critical to give candidates more reasons to see themselves being a part of your team and a clearer idea of their possible future with you. In addition to competitive compensation, you should also emphasize the intrinsic benefits of agricultural work that you have come to value throughout your history in the industry. A recruitment agency will experience in the field can also be an excellent asset!
The Canadian job market is full of compelling insights to uncover and leverage for the growth of your company. Our job is to bring these insights to the surface for you and your team, so get in touch with one of our offices to connect with truly outstanding agricultural candidates today.
