Kevin Yarr

Atlantic Beef Products in Albany&nbsp;is looking for workers to start immediately, and is in the midst of an expansion that could require even more.

The company currently employs 165, and has 15 vacancies. The shortage of workers has affected production.

"Our weekly harvest of cattle has gone probably from around 750 a week to probably somewhere around 650 a week over the last six or seven months," said company president Russ Mallard.

Historically the company has relied on other countries with larger meat packing industries to provide skilled workers, but with travel and the crossing of borders more difficult during the pandemic those workers have been harder to come by.

P.E.I. labour shortage predated pandemic but was made worse by it

The labour shortage on P.E.I. has been developing for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated it - whether it be because of women leaving the workforce, people migrating off the Island or a broader disconnect between the skills in demand versus those available in the workforce.

People line up at a Service Canada office in Montreal on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Statistics Canada says the economy lost nearly 2 million jobs in April as the COVID-19 crisis began to take hold. 

COVID Economy 20200409

Men have returned to the labour market in higher numbers than women on P.E.I.

Why there is a labour shortage on P.E.I., and yet so many unemployed

A lot of factors are coming together to create a labour shortage on P.E.I., but federal support for individuals during the pandemic does not appear to be a major player.

Halifax job fair

Help wanted signs have been a common sight on P.E.I. all summer long.

"We're doing our best to find as many local people as we can," said Mallard.

"We do get workers who do apply. Not all of them, most of them, as a matter of fact, don't have any particular experience in meat processing."

In addition to the general difficulty of travel during the pandemic, Mallard said changes to Canada's immigration program have changed Atlantic Canada's status as one of the easier places in the country to earn permanent resident status.

The difficulties have come while beef prices are rising in response to rising international demand for Canadian beef, he said.

Beef supply shortages leading to higher prices for P.E.I. consumers

Consumers should expect beef prices to continue rising thanks to a supply shortage, according to Russ Mallard, president of Atlantic Beef Products.

Farmers in the western provinces are struggling to feed their cattle due to drought conditions. 

Cattle

How this P.E.I. beef plant made sure its essential workers got their shots

About 80 per cent of the workers at the Atlantic Beef Products plant in Albany, P.E.I., have taken advantage of COVID-19 vaccinations offered to them as essential workers.

Production at the plant in Albany has doubled in the past couple of years, according to Mallard.

Beef production

President Russ Mallard says COVID-19 safety measures will remain in place until public health officials advise otherwise.

The company has been advertising more, and working with employment agencies to find the employees they need.

Atlantic Beef Products is currently expanding its shipping and holding facilities. That is due to be finished in the spring, and Mallard said the company remains optimistic it can solve its staffing problems before then and return to full production.

Atlantic Beef Products is processing about 100 fewer cattle a week.

Worker shortage slowing production at P.E.I.'s beef processing plant

Beef demand is up

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