OTTAWA—Dealing with issues on filling employee shortages, the Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council (CPISC) recently released its third human resources paper called Filling the Gap. According to CPISC there are two shortage challenges: finding employees able to operate new complex print machinery and understanding and leveraging the benefits of new technologies.

Although the printing industry is lucky to have a low turnover rate, the paper said that close to half of the companies surveyed view impending retirements as a significant issue. Indeed 41% of the workforce are 45 and older, meaning that almost half of the workforce will reach retirement age within the next ten years. Most of these companies surveyed plan on increasing their efforts to recruit new employees.

Issues with getting new employees into the workforce include trouble attracting youth and a subsequent decrease in enrolment to printing related educational programs. The CPISC suggests doing things such as knowing what is important to the people you want to attract and how your firm differs from others. Also capturing positive testimonials from present or past employees and seeking public recognition for your workplace.

In addition to attracting new workers the CPISC suggests ways to retain existing workers such as offering flexible part-time schedules to those recently retired from the company. Also suggesting a mentorship program for recently retired workers to mentor younger employees and hiring retired workers to fill staffing gaps during vacation and peak seasons. To download the report click this link.