Canada: Median Age of Workforce Goes over 40 for First Time in 2006

Statistics Canada's review of the 2006 census shows that the median age of the labor force surpassed 40 years for the first time--rising from 39.5 years in 2001 to 41.2 years in 2006. The percentage of older employees also grew, so that, in 2006, workers aged 55 and older accounted for 15.3% of the total labor force, up from 11.7% in 2001.

Farmers continued to have the highest median age of all occupations in the country: 52 in 2006; up from 51 five years earlier. Farmers and farm managers aged 55 or older in 2006 accounted for 42% of the total in the occupation. The occupations with the next highest median age were real estate agents and property administrators, followed by ministers of religion, bus drivers and other transit operators, senior managers in health, education, social and community services, and senior government managers.

Source: Statistics Canada "Canada's Changing Labour Force, 2006 Census: Findings" (March 4, 2008)

Senate Aging Committee Holds Hearings on Aging Farm Workforce

The ranking Republican on the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Sen. Gordon H. Smith, introduced the panelists at a hearing on aging and agriculture by saying "There has not been too much discussion on the aging demographics of American agriculture" and pointing out that "Right now, nearly a quarter of farm operators in this country are 65 years of age or older. That contrasts with only 8 percent of that age class in non-agricultural industries."

The hearings covered a wide range of issues from immigration, to schooling, to estate taxes, reflecting the crisis outlined by Derek Godwin, Staff Chair and Watershed Management Extension Specialist, Oregon State Unversity Extension Services, Salem, Oregon, one of the panelists at the hearing:

In the last two U.S. Census of Agriculture reports the average age of farm owners continues to increase towards 60 years of age. This means that our communities and society in general can anticipate an unprecedented transfer in ownership of land-based business over the next couple of decades. In addition, the value of agriculture property has appreciated significantly over the years which adds complexity to how and if farms will transition to the next generation. We are at a critical stage in planning for the future of agriculture: recruiting and training the next generation of farmers and ensuring farms will continue to be viable, healthy operations. Every family owned business has to deal with transitions, but it seems to be reaching crisis proportions in agriculture.

The hearings are availalbe on a webcast.

Source: Senate Special Committee on Aging "Harvest Over The Horizon: The Challenge of Aging in Agriculture" (June 21, 2007)

Other Sources: Wisconsin Ag Connection "Hearing Looks at Effects of Aging Farmers on Ag Economy" (June 22, 2007)

United States: Aging Farm Workforce and Immigration Reform

"A labor shortage is already hurting Imperial Valley farmers, but an aging work force in the fields suggests the problem could become much more severe if something isn’t done soon," reports Nick Taborek. Writing for the Medill Reports, he notes that immigration legislation before the U.S. Congress could help boost the labor supply but that some farm advocates suggest that only allowing temporary workers will not help long term.

He reports that Eric Reyes, a farm worker advocate in the Imperial Valley, finds that fewer young adults are opting for the long hours and strain associated with farm work, with the average age of a farm worker being now over 50 years old. In addition,
Ayron Moiola, executive director of the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association, says “You’re not seeing a younger generation take their place.”

With respect to immigration reform,

Reyes said farmers hoping to attract a younger workforce for years to come should push for a bill that grants all new workers an attainable path to citizenship. If farm workers entering the U.S. are only given temporary visas, he doubts that the labor shortage will disappear.

Mark McBroom, a citrus farmer in the Imperial Valley, said there may be no clear-cut solution to the aging workforce in the fields. Rather, the trend for younger workers to shun farm work may be simply a sign of the times.

Source: Medill Reports "Farmers fret over aging workforce in the fields" (May 21, 2007)

California: State Agriculture Must Develop Stable Workforce

Adressing a general session of the California Farm Bureau Federation's Annual Meeting, Victoria Bradshaw, secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, told the federation that one of the major challenges that lies ahead in the area of labor is developing a stable agricultural workforce in California and that, unless California's farmers and ranchers do not build careers and vocations in agriculture, they will be left with an aging workforce and not a replenishing workforce.

"Supply has been a major challenge in the last couple of years. One of the reasons agriculture is having a problem is not any different than a lot of other industries," Bradshaw said. "For agriculture though there is a major competitor out there and that is the expanding construction industry. It is growing at a very rapid pace, some in the infrastructure, some in residential housing, but there is a huge demand for labor and they are offering higher wages and long-term employment."

Another challenge she highlighted is training people to work in agriculture. Unless California's farmers and ranchers do not build careers and vocations in agriculture, Bradshaw said, they will be left with an aging workforce and not a replenishing workforce.

Source: California Farm Bureau Federation News Release (December 13, 2006)

Industry News: Aging Workforce Hits Pest Control Advisers

The aging workforce is hitting another industry, this time suggesting that the "graying of America is on a collision course with the feeding of America." Harry Cline, writing in the Western Farm Press reports that members of the Western Plant Health Association heard recently that this network of state-licensed Pest Control Advisers--who monitor and recommend pest control measures--are mostly baby boomers facing retirement and that there are few young people now in the profession to replace them.

Terry Stark, executive director of the California Association of Pest Control Advisers, said a survey of CAPCA’s 3,100 members revealed that almost 40 percent of its members are over 55. Only 17 percent are 44 or younger. Thirty-five percent are 45 to 55.

Twenty-five percent of CAPCA members have more than 30 years experience. Over half have more than 20 years of experience.

While suggestions include promoting and rewarding teamwork and an open-door to management, emphasis was placed on college recruiting and introducing young people to California agriculture in high school and elementary schools.

Source: Western Farm Press "Pest control adviser workforce aging, dwindling" (October 31, 2006)