Annual Labour Survey Released
The annual labour survey of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) recently released shows a shortage of workers is harming the Canadian economy. In the last year alone, CME says these shortages have resulted in economic losses totalling nearly $13 billion, a figure calculated from the responses of 563 manufacturers from across 17 industries in Canada.
The admission that a shortage of workers and the skills they bring to production results in economic losses comes from a leading imperialist organization. It contradicts the regular accusation that employed labour does not add value and is not the source of profit but is a regrettable cost of production. How can the CME declare in good conscience that a shortage of workers and their skills costs the economy billions of dollars while usually huffing and puffing that employed workers are a cost to the economy's enterprises?
The CME specifically bemoans a lack of
skilled workers costing the economy billions of dollars. The
issue of a skills shortage resulting in billions of dollars of
lost production and value explodes another myth that education
represents a cost to the economy and society. Contrary to the
usual complaint of the imperialists, education and other social
programs contribute immense value to the economy and society. In
fact, the enterprises that employ skilled workers are
irresponsible for not investing directly in the country's human
and material education and health care resources and paying for
the value they receive in educated healthy workers. Therein lies
a big problem.
Right before our eyes we see the imperialist government of Ontario using police powers to attack education workers and refuse to negotiate and come to an agreement that meets the demands of those who produce educated and skilled workers. Why does the CME not jump all over the Ontario government for refusing to fulfill its social responsibility and obligation to society and the people and meet the demands of education workers and increase investments in education?
If the CME wants to legitimize its complaint of a skills shortage it should demand its member enterprises properly directly realize (pay for) the education value they consume in their operations and not expect this to be done through taxation. Money should flow directly from enterprises into the educational system for the value they consume just as they must pay for all other consumed inputs. To be taken seriously, the CME and its members should vigorously support an increase in investments not only in education as a right for all from birth through adulthood but in all social programs.
According to the CME data, over the past year, 62 per cent of manufacturers have lost or turned down contracts and faced production delays due to a lack of workers, resulting in $7.2 billion in lost sales and penalties for late delivery. At the same time, 43 per cent of companies have postponed or cancelled development projects because of labour shortages, corresponding to $5.4 billion of lost investment.
"Our survey confirmed what we've been hearing from manufacturers on the ground for a long time. Labour and skills shortages are a chronic and persistent issue for manufacturers, and they continue to limit the growth prospects of the sector. If we don't find the workers we need, Canada's economy will suffer," said Dennis Darby, President and CEO of CME.
CME Survey Highlights:
Shortages: The ongoing challenge of labour and skills shortages continues to be exacerbated by the fallout from the pandemic. For the second consecutive year, more than 80 per cent of manufacturers reported facing labour and skills shortages, up sharply from 60 per cent in 2020 and 39 per cent in 2016. Shortages are most acute in production-related jobs, and manufacturers continue to have trouble finding enough highly skilled workers to fill skilled trade occupations and other workers to fill general labour and assembly positions. Eight-in-ten manufacturers say labour shortages in related sectors, like transportation and logistics, are also negatively affecting their business.
Instead of identifying itself and its members as a major negative factor in the problem of lack of skills because of their unwillingness to realize education value and change their ways; in the most irresponsible, banal and ridiculous way CME chief economist Alan Arcand accused young Canadians of having "a lack of interest in manufacturing jobs."
This article was published in
Volume 52 Number 11 - November 2022
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2022/Articles/M520117.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca