Tourism Labour Supply and Demand

This study quantifies the implications of long-term demographic and economic trends on labour supply and demand in Canada’s tourism sector, and outlines potential labour shortages over the next 20 years by industry, by province, and by occupation.

Labour issues eased considerably during the recent recession, but labour shortages were predicted to return between 2010 and 2013. To date, economic conditions have remained volatile, and their effect on tourism businesses continues to evolve.

Although Canada’s tourism sector as a whole is expected to see a surplus of labour equivalent to 24,776 jobs in 2010, Saskatchewan will see shortages return in 2010 after a brief dip into surplus labour territory in 2009. Three other provinces will see tourism labour shortages in 2011, while the sector as a whole will face shortages equivalent to almost 9,500 full-year jobs by 2012. By 2025, this figure could reach 219,000 jobs.

Report highlights are available on the Tourism Employment Fast Facts page.

Interested stakeholders can download the national report The Future of Canada's Tourism Sector: Economic Recession Only A Temporary Reprieve From Labour Shortages for free.

In addition, complimentary summary reports for the national sector are available, as well as for each province (note that the territories are not included in the report due to lack of data).