AUCC report says Canada runs the risk of shortage in knowledge workers
If university enrolment does not increase by 1.3 per cent a year, Canada will see a labour shortage in “knowledge-intensive occupations,” according to a new report by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. In a statement released along with their Enrolment Trends 2011 study, the university advocacy group claims “there could be jobs available without qualified workers to fill them” if provincial governments reduce spending on post-secondary education in reaction to slow economic growth. The federal government estimates that 1.4 million jobs will be created in the decade between 2008 and 2017, the bulk of which will require a university degree. The government also estimates that 4.1 million jobs will become available due to retiring baby boomers.