The Labour Market Forum is a two-day working event. Over 80 participants from across the country are invited to participate because of their knowledge, expertise, and commitment towards addressing workforce challenges. They contribute to Tourism HR Canada’s mission to build a resilient, competitive, and inclusive workforce.
In 2022, the focus of discussion was on the prevailing themes that emerged from the pandemic:
- The need to build a healthy supply of workers commensurate with market demands,
- Addressing skills deficiencies and mismatches to better optimize the current workforce,
- Overcoming key employment and mobility barriers; and
- Responding to the reputational damage and overall image liability associated with tourism jobs and careers.
Presentations and discussions were around 4 focus areas:
Focus 1: A look at the current and forecasted situation of a tourism labour market in crisis.
Focus 2: Exploring some specific strategies to attract and retain talent.
Focus 3: Future skills, skill mismatch and developing a resilient, inclusive and competitive workforce.
Focus 4: Moving forward together; partnership potential and labour market advocacy.
2022 Labour Market Forum Presentations
Welcome to the Labour Market Forum 2022: Forward Together
Forum overview and look at the current workforce crisis and exploring strategies to attract and retain talent.
Philip Mondor, CEO and President of Tourism HR Canada.
Focus 1: A look at the current and forecasted situation of a tourism labour market in crisis.
Policy Issues related to labour shoratages.
Current tourism labour shortages and policy updates needed.
Susie Grynol, Hotel Association of Canada (HAC)
Inflation, Pandemic and War: Forecasting in a Time of Uncertainty
A 5 year projection of tourism employment demand and labour gaps in Canada from 2019-2025.
Greg Hermus, Conference Board of Canada
Focus 2: Exploring some specific strategies to attract and retain talent.
ITA: Labour Market Intelligence Initiative
A research initiative with Alberta’s Indigenous tourism industry post-Covid, providing key observations and recommendations to provide training and career advancement for Indigenous tourism operators and workers.
Shae Bird & Mackenzie Brown, Indigenous Tourism Alberta (ITA)
Cooks with Stones: Pathways into Tourism and Hospitality for Indigenous Youth
An award-winning example of a project created for – and by – the community.
The program supported learners to build literacy and essential skills, culinary skills, confidence and work experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Elaine Cairns & Ted Norris, Alberta Further Education Society (FESA)
Canada's Immigration Advantage
Information on IRCC programs including Francophone Promotion from IRCC International Network, facilitated work permits, economic Immigration programs and other resources for employers.
Brendon Rafferty, National Network of IRCC, & Jennifer Woo, International Network of IRCC
RDÉE Program overview
Services provided to employers for employability and recruitment of Francophone and bilingual/multilingual immigrants and entrepreneurship support.
Roukya Abdi-Aden, RDEE
A Saskatchewan Perspective on Supporting Ukrainian Displaced Persons
How Hospitality Saskatchewan has worked with the provincial government to mobilize industry support for settlement and employment for Ukrainian displaced persons.
Jim Bence, Hospitality Saskatchewan
Welcome to the Labour Market Forum Day 2: Forward Together
Overview of DAY 2 of the Forum and Moving Together Beyond Borders, Beyond Companies and Beyond Sectors.
Philip Mondor, CEO and President of Tourism HR Canada.
Focus 3: Future skills, skill mismatch and developing a resilient, inclusive and competitive workforce.
Transferable Job Skills and their Importance for Hospitality Graduates
Results of a study looking at why hospitality graduates in business schools don’t stay in the industry, and their transferable skills that helped them move to other industries.
Wayne Smith, Toronto Metropolitan University
Hospitality and Tourism Future Skills
A look at labour market shifts, implications and new management skills required, and areas for improvement in curriculum and programming.
Statia Elliot, University of Guelph
Overview of Workforce Sharing Initiatives
Learnings from pilot projects in employee sharing.
Xavier Gret & Gabriel Vaillancourt, Conseil québécois des ressources humaines en tourisme (CQRHT)
What is Advocacy?
An overview of what advocacy is, it’s process, principles, strategy, and why it matters to the industry.
Marc Seguin, Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)
Advocacy and Tourism’s Turnaround Story
How advocacy from combined tourism organizations helped the tourism industry recover and move forward.
Susie Grynol, Hotel Association of Canada (HAC)
Building Back a Better Indigenous Labour Market
A look at how supporting the Indigenous workforce furthers reconciliation and builds social and economic growth.
Keith Henry, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada