Agriculture is one of Canada’s key industries. This is because Canada has a vast amount of land, a small population, and a high concentration of wealth. However, Canada’s agricultural industry is in dire need of more employees. So what are the best province for farm jobs in Canada 2024?
Most Canadians have little to no interest in working on farms, especially given the seasonal nature of many farms’ employment. Most farms are found in isolated or rural areas, which Canadians frequently avoid.
As a result, foreign workers can find plenty of farm jobs in Canada. In 2021, 61,735 temporary foreign workers were employed in agriculture, but there were also 573,100 Canadians working in primary agriculture and food and beverage processing.
Foreign workers make up about 10% of the total agricultural workforce in Canada. So, there is a huge demand for farm workers during each harvest season.
Out of Canada’s provinces, only 10 have the extensive farming and agricultural infrastructure, making determining the best region to work in challenging.
All provinces produce some agricultural commodities, but the distribution and diversity vary widely across the country. The Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) account for most farm area and crop production, while Ontario and Quebec lead in dairy, poultry, and horticulture.
The best province to work in depends on the type of farm job and the personal preference of the worker.
To assist you in choosing the best province for farm jobs in Canada in 2024, the farming data for these 10 provinces are broken down below.
Best Province for Farm Jobs in Canada 2024
Alberta
Alberta is a big player in Canada’s farming world. In 2023, its farm and food businesses made up 7.1% of Canada’s total economy, slightly up from 2022.
This is because Alberta is good at growing wheat and canola, raising cattle, growing barley and peas, and producing dairy and poultry products. These businesses earn about $12.5 billion in Alberta.
There are plenty of job opportunities here. In 2023, 36,100 people worked in this sector, and about two-thirds were self-employed. The outlook for farm jobs in Alberta is good, especially for seasonal work in beef or vegetable farms. But there are also full-time jobs, like fixing farm equipment or managing farm teams.
Alberta farm workers make between $19 and $28 an hour, averaging $23.00 an hour in 2023. You’ll usually work around 40 hours weekly, but expect more during harvest time.
Living in Alberta means you’re close to big cities like Calgary and Edmonton. But many farms are far from towns while some workers live in small towns or on the farm.
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon is one of the largest farming provinces in Canada. In 2021, Saskatchewan had 36,952 farms, the third-highest number after Alberta (43,234) and Ontario (51,950).
Saskatchewan also had 61.6 million acres of total farm area, the second highest after Alberta (50.5 million acres). Saskatchewan also produces some of the country’s major exports.
In addition to being Canada’s second-largest cattle producer, Saskatchewan is also the world’s largest exporter of lentils, mustard seeds, and durum wheat.
Most of Canada’s farmland is in Prairie provinces, the nation’s breadbasket, with 80.8% of its total farmland being cropland; Saskatchewan is primarily a grain-producing province.
About 40% of Canada’s total cropland is located in Saskatchewan alone.
Saskatchewan farms are seeing an increase in female operators and workers.
Due to the abundance of labor, operating, and more specialized positions like mechanics available to immigrants in Canada, Saskatchewan is widely regarded as the best place to work in agriculture.
British Columbia
Let’s say you want to work for a slightly smaller company. British Columbia might be the best province in Canada to work in that situation.
British Columbia has a diverse and growing agriculture industry, including fruit and vegetable cultivation, animal husbandry, and winery regions. The province is ideal for smaller, more specialized farming operations due to its varied terrain, high land value, and dense population.
British Columbia exports highbush blueberries, sweet cherries, cranberries, apples, and grapes. Dairy was the largest segment of agriculture in the province from 2016 to 2020.
The province has the highest proportion of female and young farm operators in Canada. The average age of farm operators was 56.4 years in 2021, slightly lower than the national average.
The province faces a worker shortage and relies significantly on temporary foreign workers. The sector employed approximately 22,000 workers in 2021, with a median hourly wage of $20.00/hr.
British Columbia is a great place to work in the agriculture sector, as it offers a variety of farm jobs, a dynamic and growing industry, and a rich and rewarding lifestyle.
Therefore, British Columbia is undoubtedly worth considering if you seek a more permanent position in Canadian agriculture.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of the best provinces for farm jobs in 2024 because of its diverse and growing agriculture industry. Nova Scotia produces various crops and livestock, such as blueberries, apples, grapes, potatoes, dairy products, and poultry. These products are in high domestic and international demand, creating many opportunities for farm workers.
Nova Scotia also has a supportive and innovative environment for agriculture. The province has a Department of Agriculture provides various programs and services to help farmers and farm workers.
The province also has a strong research and education sector that fosters new agricultural technologies and practices. Nova Scotia also has a vibrant culture and community that celebrates local food and farmers.
Nova Scotia is a great place to work in the agricultural sector, as it offers a variety of farm jobs, a dynamic and growing industry, and a rich and rewarding lifestyle.
If you are interested in farm jobs in Nova Scotia, you can find them on Job Bank.
Manitoba
An important agricultural powerhouse in Canada, Manitoba produces some of the country’s most important exports. Additionally, Manitoba can provide plenty of jobs for workers in Canada thanks to its 17.2 million acres of farmland.
The farming sector in Manitoba is thriving. With Canada’s third-highest average farm revenue, farm workers have access to better facilities, better pay, better equipment, and a higher standard of living.
With more pigs per farm than any other province in Canada, Manitoba leads the country in pig farming.
With over 80% of Canada’s sunflower seed cropland, Manitoba is also a national leader in many field crops. Additionally, Manitoba uses more environmentally friendly farming practices than many other Canadian provinces, such as windbreaks and shelterbelts.
This will interest you! Manitoba produces more renewable energy than the nation as a whole. Therefore, Manitoba is an excellent place to find the farm job you’re looking for, with top benefits and many chances to advance and broaden your farming knowledge.
Ontario
Ontario is Canada’s economic hub; it also provides a sizable portion of the nation’s agriculture. As a result, greenhouse farming, a significant employer of temporary foreign workers, is an important industry in Ontario. The greenhouse area in Canada is made up of 62.4 percent greenhouses in Ontario.
Ontario is a major region for raising livestock, with cow farms reporting a 5.2 percent increase in livestock since 2016 and pig farms reporting a 23.4 percent increase in market pigs since 2016.
Ontario is a leader in integrating technology into agriculture and sustainable farming, necessitating a large number of farm workers and specialized experts in those fields.
The province invested more than $68 million in the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative (OASI) to fund three programs designed to support farmers in making their agricultural lands more productive and resilient.
One of the best provinces in Canada for farm jobs is Ontario because it offers many opportunities to start a farm job and advance in a career in agriculture.
The province launched the 2023 Excellence in Agriculture program to showcase the outstanding efforts, innovations, and achievements across the agriculture and food sector.
The province also had the second-largest share of Canada’s agri-food exports, with 25.7% in 2020.
Quebec
Quebec is home to some of the country’s largest farms. As a result, Quebec contributes significantly to some of Canada’s major exports, such as dairy, pigs, and canola.
Quebec is very much at the forefront of modern farming. As a result, it appears that it will soon become a significant player in Canada’s agricultural industry.
Quebec has the most organic farms, direct sales, renewable energy production, robotic milking technology, and a preference for younger farming operators.
As a result, it’s no surprise that the number of farms in Quebec is stable while the national number of farms is decreasing.
Currently, Quebec has a great need for French-speaking foreign laborers to assist in carrying out the province’s enormous amount of farming.
So, let’s say you want to work in the large and expanding agricultural sector. Quebec is the first place to look in that situation.
New Brunswick
While the farming sector in New Brunswick may not be the biggest in Canada, it does offer excellent opportunities for those seeking employment in the potato, beef, or blueberry farming industries.
The third-largest producer of blueberries in Canada is located in New Brunswick. Additionally, about 26.8 percent of New Brunswick’s total farming income comes from the province’s potato farms.
The number of maple taps per farm has increased from 10,782 to 18,744, reflecting the growth of maple farming.
As a result, New Brunswick will rank as Canada’s third-largest producer of maple syrup as of 2021.
In addition to being smaller than the national average, farms in New Brunswick tend to be independent or non-corporate.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Although farming in Newfoundland and Labrador can be difficult due to the region’s geography, the industry is open to newcomers to meet the demand.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the average age of farm owners is rising while the number of open positions is increasing.
Many farms address this by searching outside of Canada for immigrants to fill these crucial positions. Vegetables and melons are the main food products.
The majority of the farmland is, however, comprised of beef farms. The province is also working to increase the use of renewable energy sources.
The sector primarily needs laborers and farm workers, and finding employment as an immigrant from abroad is not difficult.
Through immigration programs like the Atlantic Immigration Pilot or the Agri-Food Pilot, working in the province may also open up opportunities for total immigration to Canada and permanent residency.
Prince Edward Island
One of Canada’s newest emerging farming provinces is Prince Edward Island, which produces the majority of the country’s potatoes. Currently, since 2016, the number of beef and feedlot farms on Prince Edward Island has increased by 7.1 percent.
Prince Edward Island’s farms, like those in most of Canada’s northern provinces, are typically smaller than the country as a whole, but they are still in dire need of farm hands and other laborers.
According to WorkPEI Employment Analysis for the province of PEI, 5,500 people worked in agriculture as of October 2023, compared to 3,300 a year ago.
Prince Edward Island leads the way in environmentally friendly agriculture and generates more bioenergy than the rest of Canada combined.
In order to ensure that the adoption of renewable energy proceeds without a hitch, mechanics and engineers are also greatly needed.
Conclusion
Canada offers a variety of farm jobs for both domestic and foreign workers, depending on the province, the industry, and the skill level.
The agriculture sector is a vital part of Canada’s economy and society, and it is constantly evolving and innovating to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. Whether you are looking for a seasonal, permanent, or specialized farm job, Canada has something for you.
You can find more information and resources on Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Statistics Canada.
We hope this blog post has helped you learn more about the best provinces for farm jobs in Canada in 2024.
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