It may be a drop in the bucket compared to large provinces like Ontario and Quebec, but there are 2,800 unfilled jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador, according to the Q3 2017 Help Wanted report, released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) on Tuesday, Dec. 12.
That’s a vacancy rate of 1.9 per cent.
Across the country there are 361,700 unfilled jobs, the CFIB report says, the highest number of unfilled private sector jobs ever recorded in Canada.
A combination of a growing economy and a shortage of skilled workers is cited as the cause.
As compared to the other Atlantic provinces, New Brunswick has 5,700 unfilled jobs (2.5 per cent vacancy), Nova Scotia has 6,100 (2.1 per cent) and Prince Edward Island has 900 (1.9 per cent).
“Labour shortages are again becoming a major hindrance to businesses across the country, especially small firms,” said Ted Mallett, the chief economist at CFIB.
“We need government to take action, to find solutions for chronic shortages that inhibit a small business’ ability to take on new contracts, expand and innovate.”
Read the full report on the CFIB's website here.
