Memo warns of skilled-worker shortage

A massive shortage of educated workers has cast a cloud over expansion in Canada’s oil-sands sector, says a secret memorandum sent to the federal government’s top bureaucrat.

The memo, released through access to information legislation, noted the poor environ-mental reputation of the oil-and-gas industry is alienating minority groups from joining a workforce that could need up to 100,000 new employees by 2020 to meet increased demand.

“Compounding this challenge is the pace of technology and the length of time it takes for employees to develop expertise in their field,” said the memo, prepared for Wayne Wouters, clerk of the Privy Council Office, the lead department in the federal public service that serves as the administrative arm of the Prime Minister’s Office.

“For instance, it can take between five and seven years before a worker in the petroleum sector becomes fully proficient at their job,” said the memo, obtained by Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin. “In addition, there is a demonstrated need for improved skills and knowledge among new recruits. For instance, only 53 per cent of the mining-sector workforce has participated in post-secondary education.”

via Memo warns of skilled-worker shortage.