Job prospects Farm Hand - Harvesting in the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region

Over the past few years (2021-2023), there was a labour surplus for General farm workers in the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region. There were more workers available than job openings in this occupation.

Source Labour Market Information | Recent Trends Methodology

The employment outlook will be limited for Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101) in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

From year to year, farm size continues to increase, and the concentration of activity has continued within large farms. As a result, productivity gains from investments in equipment and increased use of farm machinery have reduced labour requirements in these businesses.

Despite this, the majority of tasks remain difficult to automate and the industry must rely on these workers to perform work on crop and livestock farms. Recruitment is difficult, and despite improvements in certain working conditions, the industry must rely on temporary foreign workers to fill available jobs.

People are still interested in eating healthy when they can afford it. The development of networks for buying local and short food supply chains promotes the establishment of small, local vegetable production and livestock operations. These new trends create additional employment opportunities for this occupation.

Here are some key facts about Harvesting labourers in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region:

• Approximately 270 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Harvesting labourers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Agriculture (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, 1152): more than 95%

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology