Federal Tourism Growth Strategy: Workforce Recovery

Press Release

In response to the Government of Canada’s consultation on the development of a post-pandemic Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, Tourism HR Canada submitted a suite of workforce recovery strategies with recommended, concrete, and measurable actions.

Tourism, at its core, is a people business and one that relies on a skilled workforce to capitalize on its economic potential for Canada. Re-opening tourism businesses and guiding their recovery requires an all-of-sector approach. A full workforce recovery strategy will require flexibility, coordination, and resources to ensure it is responsive to urgent demands and is economically and socially viable over the long term. Fundamentally, the aim must strive for a cohesive strategy to address systemic and structural issues, improve on the sector’s resilience, and strengthen its capacity as a key economic driver.

The recommended strategies to address workforce recovery and growth are aimed at developing a sustainable, competitive, resilient, and inclusive workforce–they are:

BUILD A SUPPLY OF WORKERS

1. Implement comprehensive tourism immigration strategy
2. Implement pan-Canadian Indigenous workforce strategy
3. Restore and expand attraction and retention strategy
4. Modernize labour standards regulations and employer HR/workforce practices and supports

FOCUS ON THE SKILLS MISMATCH

1. Increase high school tourism and hospitality programs
2. Modernize post-secondary tourism programs
3. Launch pan-Canadian tourism ‘Job Ready’ program
4. Rationalize and prioritize government-funded training initiatives

FIX WORKER AND LEARNER MOBILITY AND EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS

1. Adjust policies to address employment mobility barriers
2. Adjust Transport Canada policies concerning seafaring workers in tourism occupations
3. Facilitate improved worker and student mobility
4. Incentivize public and private infrastructure investments

ENSURE APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT, GUIDANCE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY

1. Provide operational funding to Tourism HR Canada

Details on each of these recommended strategies can be found here.

Tourism HR Canada would like to take this opportunity to thank the many who took the time to provide submissions that included workforce recommendations and support for Tourism HR Canada’s mandate, most notably the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC), and the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses.

IBF5