What is the outlook for manufacturing jobs in Canada in 2022?
We’re getting this question a lot from our clients lately.
The long and short of it is that the manufacturing sector was strong in 2021, and it looks like this trend will continue in 2022. But what exactly does that mean for job seekers considering a career, or a career change, in the manufacturing industry?
We’ll discuss that in detail in this post, along with some interesting facts and statistics to help job hunters with their essential career decisions. First and foremost, though, we want everyone to be safe, healthy, and happy wherever they’re working.
That’s why providing safe and healthy work environments for our employees is always our priority at HCR. We have an established reputation as a leading staffing and employment agency in the Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario. This gives us access to world-class companies looking for great employees. And for qualified candidates like you, we provide an inside track to exciting job opportunities to help you:
- Add some flexibility to your career
- Search for short- or long-term assignments
- Find positions that match your skills and experience
- Begin every assignment prepared and ready to work
Give us a call today at 416-622-1427, or get in touch online to discuss your career goals.
Let’s get started with an update on the overall Canadian economy. The financial experts at the Royal Bank of Canada weighed in in a recent article. Here’s what they had to say:
The next decade can be different. But if Canada is to secure a new growth trajectory, the private sector must take the lead. With an increase of $200 billion in the value of liquid assets since the start of the pandemic—and with long-term interest rates still low—corporate Canada has the muscle to do it.
There’s a business case for investment. Consumer surveys show a continued desire to engage with e-commerce. Canadians want to shop in a responsible way that favours local businesses and respects the climate and how employees are treated. And intensifying labour shortages provide a good reason to make production more efficient through new investments in automation and equipment.
It’s still too early to see a surge in business investment, but early evidence is encouraging: machinery and equipment (M&E) investment is above 2019 levels (excluding transportation equipment). Investments in research and development (R&D) and software are up, too. Trade data show a recovery in industrial machinery imports and a rise in imports of electronic and electrical equipment.
That’s some very encouraging news. The references to increased government spending and increased industrial machinery purchases are music to the ears of manufacturing companies. Overall, the manufacturing sector will be a big beneficiary of the anticipated economic growth.
In this post, we’ll discuss the market, the job opportunities, and the best ways to maximize manufacturing job searches.
Here’s what we’re going to cover:
- Increasing Demand for Manufacturing Jobs in 2022
- Expect Wages to Increase
- Increased Job Security
- Greater Work/Shift Flexibility
- Career Advancement Opportunities
- Manufacturing Is an Excellent Opportunity for the Next Generation of Workers
- Skills Needed in the Manufacturing Industry
So how are manufacturing companies handling the increasing demand for manufacturing jobs in 2022?
Hiring managers and HR teams are getting creative to attract the best available manufacturing talent. This includes salary and non-salary benefits like PTO, paid vacation, retirement, and healthcare benefits. We’ll talk more about that later.
As we point out in a previous post, Canada has an aging workforce and an increasing demand for skilled and unskilled labour. Companies are getting creative and actively exploring opportunities to recruit and hire more women and younger workers.
Creative hiring campaigns are a definite indicator of a candidate-friendly hiring market.
Expect wages and benefits to increase.
Aggressive hiring tactics by manufacturing companies also mean increased wages and benefits. And you can best take advantage of these increases by increasing your skills. Skilled tradespeople will be in the highest demand and will snag the highest paying jobs.
Always look for opportunities to upskill. Companies will often pay for advanced training and trade or vocational schooling. Manufacturing jobs can present great opportunities for personal growth right now.
There should also be more stability and increased job security for the workforce.
The economic outlook for Canadian workers looks like it will continue to grow for at least the next several years. Some significant supply chain weaknesses, such as semiconductors and circuit boards, are preventing some Canadian manufacturers from reaching full production capability. But even with these shortages, the hiring market has continued to expand.
Standard & Poors and the Bank of Canada recently stated that the supply chain should recover fully by mid-next year. And when that happens, there will be even more growth in manufacturing.
The bottom line is that manufacturing jobs are looking to become more and more stable in the coming years as the Canadian economy grows.
Expect more flexibility with work and shift choices.
In several previous posts, we point out the value of work-lifestyle flexibility and choice, especially for younger workers. Manufacturing companies are responding positively with flexible shift choices for the workforce. This is especially true for young women who want to spend time as the family’s primary caregiver while working a full-time job.
Hiring teams and HR pros are seeing the recruiting value of flexible shift offerings for the workforce, and they are passing these benefits on to their employees.
Are there career advancement opportunities for job candidates?
Yes, especially with the move toward more electronics, robotics, and process automation on the manufacturing floor. These trends in manufacturing are creating the need for more skilled workers. The mechanized, electronic, robotic infrastructure requires intelligent, motivated employees to run and maintain it.
We talk about career-enhancing skills more later in the post. Suffice to say that more skilled workforces demand higher wages, better overall compensation plans, and more opportunities for advancement.
Advancement also includes perks in addition to compensation and the potential for climbing the corporate ladder. There may also be paid education, upskilling, and technical certification opportunities.
Is manufacturing an excellent opportunity for the next generation of workers?
The experts over at Canadian Manufacturing think so. Here’s what they have to say:
Because many of their technical skills are based around the innovations already impacting our daily lives, millennials and generation Z understand many of the concepts underlying Industry 4.0 that are rapidly changing Canadian manufacturing.
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, and that’s great news for younger workers thinking about manufacturing careers.
So what skills are required in the manufacturing industry with the increased use of automation?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is influencing the future of work through advanced robotics, AI, analytics, automation, the Internet of Things, and machine learning. Many fear that these will make a concerted effort to take away jobs, but the truth couldn’t be further. These technologies will create more jobs than they will take away.
Today’s manufacturing jobs are a generous mix of engineering skills and traditional manufacturing abilities. Common engineering skills include industrial design, Quality Control, and so forth, while manufacturing skills may cover machining, welding, and more.
Modern products result from manufacturing processes that use computer-controlled machinery along with methods to improve efficiency. Workers willing to put in the work to improve their skills and education stand an excellent chance to upgrade their earnings and standard of living. Indeed, there’s a bright future for careers in manufacturing.
That’s an excellent summary, and we couldn’t agree more with their assessment.
Does a challenging, rewarding career in manufacturing sound like it might be right for you?
If so, consider engaging with an established recruiting and staffing agency to help you with your job search. A great recruiting firm can streamline the hiring process by helping you find the companies that are looking for a candidate just like you.
Whether you are searching for reliable and skilled workers or looking for new job opportunities, HCR has the solution. We match great people with great career opportunities every day.
Why settle for just any job when you can choose an opportunity that’s uniquely suited to you?
At HCR, we are anything but a typical recruitment firm, and you will notice that difference immediately. Your recruiter will get to know you beyond your resume. We want to understand your personal and professional career goals and objectives.
At HCR Personnel, we’ll treat you as an individual, not just a number. HCR recruiters have decades of experience and far-reaching connections in the manufacturing, engineering, and industrial sectors. We know which employers are looking for great employees with your skills, experience, and goals.
Give one of our professional recruiters a call today at 416-622-1427, or get in touch online today.
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