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Staffing shortages in the North are impacting everyone, according to local businesses

Staffing shortages in the north are widespread with service industries among the hardest hit
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SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not as simple as a wage issue, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a supply issue. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 not enough people that are looking to work who arenSA国际影视传媒檛 already employed somewhere,SA国际影视传媒 says Rob Warburton, president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of Hannah Eden Photography

Staffing shortages in the North are not new. But according to Rob Warburton, president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, this is a national problem that isnSA国际影视传媒檛 going away anytime soon.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 putting up an ad for a job and getting zero applicants.SA国际影视传媒

Warburton said that while service sectors are most evidently struggling, government, construction and other areas are also experiencing a lack of staff. Sectors that typically have high volumes of employees, simply do not. And at the same time, demand is at an all-time high, especially during the warmer summer vacation months.

Warburton said he has heard from retail, restaurant and other food service industries that times are tough.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 not enough people to do the jobs we need and then on top of that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 essentially a zero vacancy for rental units right now so housing is a big problem.SA国际影视传媒

Lower-income entry-level jobs arenSA国际影视传媒檛 being filled as there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 enough available labour to fill them, Warburton said.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 hitting everywhere. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not as simple as a wage issue, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a supply issue. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 not enough people that are looking to work who arenSA国际影视传媒檛 already employed somewhere,SA国际影视传媒 Warburton said. SA国际影视传媒淭he whole country is suffering from this problem.SA国际影视传媒

He emphasized there are massive waiting lists for any kind of skilled labour like plumbing, trade, land and ply divisions.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a similar story for Liz Wyman, owner of Office Compliments. She said they are also experiencing a staffing shortage with few applicants answering ads.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e gone through this before in the north so itSA国际影视传媒檚 typical,SA国际影视传媒 she said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur doors are open and weSA国际影视传媒檙e wanting anybody that is looking for a position to stop in and see us and weSA国际影视传媒檙e willing to train on the job.SA国际影视传媒

The cost of living up north remains expensive making it even harder to attract new people.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e losing kind of the attractive edge we had a few years ago as a destination,SA国际影视传媒 Warburton said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think the only option to get people up here the way we need is to aggressively work with the government to figure out how to get more people up here.SA国际影视传媒

Immigration, new policy developments and other creative ideas are some ways to potentially offset the staffing shortage.

Watching new buildings going up, Warburton said he is confident the housing crisis will ease in the north in a couple of years. It seems most businesses have maxed out all available staffing opportunities and some businesses are reducing their hours even during the popular summer season, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淎ny industry that is kind of labour intensive is going to have to figure out a new way of operating cause this isnSA国际影视传媒檛 going away. This is Canada-wide for a long time.SA国际影视传媒





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