It’s almost Quitting time!

Statistics Canada numbers released this week are indicating that Prince Rupert employers may find an employee shortage in the coming years, with fifteen per cent of the region’s population reaching retirement age.

When the numbers were tabulated from the 2006 census 15 per cent of the Prince Rupert workforce were aged 55 to 64, the age when the majority of workers begin to make their plans to exit the work force and seek a slower pace of life.

Labour forecasters and trend observers are suggesting that there will be a serious shortage of trained workers covering a wide range of occupations when the days of leisure for retiring workers arrive.

To combat that worker crunch the days of mandatory retirement came to an end, with the government no longer forcing workers to give up their jobs upon reaching retirement age. And while there will be a few that decided to work on well past their retirement date, the bulk will most likely still call it day when the time comes, providing they can afford to.

For those looking for a job or seeking more rewarding employment, it may just be a matter of waiting out the senior workers as they head off into the sunset, part of a growing exodus of workers leaving the workforce.

The Daily News provided a breakdown on many of the Statistics Canada numbers for the Prince Rupert area with a front page story in Wednesday’s paper.

EMPLOYEE SHORTAGE LOOMS AS RUPERT'S WORKFORCE AGES

With average local worker now 43 years old, attrition likely to continue
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Pages one and three

Prince Rupert is facing a workforce exodus with more than 15 per cent of workers nearing retirement age, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.

The information was part of newly released census data that shows a national trend of a declining rate of young people entering the workforce to replace retiring baby boomers.

Information from the 2006 census indicates 15 per cent of the Prince Rupert workforce was aged 55 to 64 at the last census. Provincially, the situation is not much better with 14 per cent of workers in the 55-64 age group - nationally, the figure was 12.9 per cent.

Among that age group nearing retirement in Prince Rupert, 22.4 per cent work in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations and 21.9 per cent work in sales and service occupations.

The median age of a worker in Prince Rupert was 43.4 in 2006. In 2001, the last time the census was taken, the median age was 40.6. Nationally, the median age of a worker was 41.2, compared to 39.5 in 2001.

Statistics Canada defines median age as a middle value - the point where exactly one half of the working-age population is older than the median age and the other half is younger.
The census shows a continuing national trend of fewer young people entering the workforce to replace retiring baby boomers.

Across Canada, there were 1.9 entrants to the labour force aged 20-34 for every person over 55 on their way out. Five years ago, there were 2.7 entrants for every potential retiree and 25 years ago, the figure was 3.7 entrants.

The census numbers show that in 2006, there were 1.4 entrants to the labour force of Prince Rupert aged 20-34 for every person over 55 who was on their way out.

For several years, researchers have warned about potential labour shortages across Canada based on the aging of baby boomers - those born between 1946 and 1964 - and lower fertility rates. Within the next three years, almost one-fifth of Canadian baby boomers will be at least 61 years of age.

Labour market analysts are predicting a widespread shortage of workers impacting a broad range of occupations.

A shortage of suitable workers can hurt a healthy economy because the labour market and economy are so tightly bound.

When the ratio of workers arriving to the workplace dips below the number leaving it, it could create a drag on the economy and stagnate growth.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said the federal government must find ways to help Canada hold onto its skilled workers and draw talented immigrants to cover the gaps.

In Prince Rupert, the median age of workers in health occupations was 43.

For those working in trades and related occupations, the median age was 45.7.

The census information released Tuesday also gives an insight into the education levels of people in Prince Rupert.

A total of 18.6 per cent of the population in Prince Rupert aged 25-64 have attained a university certificate, diploma or degree.

A further 16.7 per cent have a college diploma; 14.3 per cent earned a trade certificate; 25.6 per cent have nothing higher than a secondary school education and 24.8 per cent didn't earn a high school diploma.

The census also showed that 4.2 per cent of the total employed workforce of Prince Rupert worked at home in 2006. A total of 10.4 per cent of working population of Prince Rupert was self-employed.

Statistics Canada also uses the census to find out about unpaid work, such as housework, child care or elderly care.

In 2006, women in Prince Rupert did more unpaid work than their male counterparts - 52.6 per cent among women to 47.4 per cent for men.

With files from the Canadian Press