P.E.I. businesses struggle to find employees for tourism, construction seasons
It’s a tough time to be a business owner looking for employees, that’s particularly true for those gearing up for the peak tourism and construction seasons on Prince Edward Island.
The island is facing a labour shortage.
Robert Godfrey, Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce CEO, said this is the time of year when tourism businesses go on a hiring blitz, but many owners are coming up empty-handed.
“They’re working the front lines themselves, they’re doing whatever they have to in order to keep their businesses going,” said Godfrey. “In front of what’s going to be a great season, really, in terms of numbers, on the tourism side in particular.”
He said owners are offering perks to try and get employees to choose them.
“Some people are paying more, some people are doing flex hours,” said Godfrey. “They’re looking at retention, they’re looking at how they can attract employees.”
The worker shortage isn’t new. It existed before the pandemic, but it’s gotten worse.
The construction industry on the island is booming but is stifled by a lack of employees.
“Because we’ve seen such a boom in the industry in the past two years,” said Alicia Packwood of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of P.E.I. “The dockets of work is much higher than it was, so it’s not just filling the normal vacancies, it’s increased vacancies that they’re trying to fill.”
She said owners are taking on projects two and three years out. The same number of jobs are getting done, but customers are waiting much longer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.