Diversity and Inclusion
Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry is committed to being a place of diversity and inclusion, but there’s work to do.
Diversity and inclusion in food and beverage processing
Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry is a diverse industry. Immigrants make up 31% of the workforce — an overrepresentation when compared to only 23% of the overall Canadian workforce. However, 60% of the industry’s workforce is made up of men and only 3% of the workforce are Indigenous People which is 1% less than the overall workforce.
What is most striking with the industry’s demographics is that 24% of the workforce is aged between 55 and 64, with the majority of these individuals eligible to retire in the next 10 years.
Hiring opportunities for employers
There is opportunity for industry employers to better connect with demographics that have been historically underrepresented including people with disabilities and women. There is also an opportunity to build on current workforce successes with Canada welcoming more than 1.2 million newcomers between 2021 and 2023.
This industry is committed to being a place of diversity and inclusion, but there is work to do. In 2023, CareersNOW! will expand partnerships with the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association, Discover Ability Network, and local employment leaders to facilitate recruitment and retention strategies that engage individuals from underrepresented groups, and educate leaders to champion change.
