The Future of Canada’s Tourism Sector: Growth Aspirations Face Labour Challenges

Tourism makes a significant contribution to the Canadian economy. In 2016, there were over 1.8 million jobs in the tourism sector. By 2035, spending within tourism industries could reach $338 billion. This demand for tourism goods and services will require many new jobs, but will the supply of labour be able to keep up? The projections contained within this report suggest that it will not. While the demand for labour will increase to 2.3 million jobs by 2035, the supply of labour will only be able to fill 2.2 million jobs.


Key findings:

- In 2015, the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey showed there were 22,320 vacant full-year jobs in Canada’s tourism sector.
- Spending by tourists and residents in Canada’s tourism sector could reach $338 billion by 2035, requiring 2.3 million jobs to meet that demand.
- The past few years have seen an increase in the number of immigrants coming to Canada each year. This policy change has mitigated the number of jobs expected to go unfilled, but it has not eliminated the labour shortfall facing tourism.
- By 2035, the tourism sector could see 93,000 full-year jobs go unfilled, equal to $10.1 billion in potential revenue.

This report contains information on:

- Potential demand for tourism-related goods and services
- Potential labour demand in the tourism sector
- Potential labour supply in the tourism sector
- Unfilled jobs in the tourism sector
- The impact of raising wages
- Potential job openings
- Forecast methodology and background
- Potential demand for tourism goods and services by province
- Trends for hours worked
- Economic background for Canada and the provinces
- Impact of enhance permanent residency levels on tourism labour supply and demand