TIAO at the Labour Market Forum – Prioritizing the Future of Tourism's Workforce

Here are some of the key takeaways from the forum:

• Investing in Skills Development: To remain competitive on a global scale and boost productivity, investing in skills training at every level of the workforce is crucial.

• Engaging Indigenous Canadians: As Canada’s fastest-growing labour pool, Indigenous Canadians present a significant opportunity for the tourism sector. More work is needed to foster meaningful engagement and open up opportunities in tourism. For more information visit: Indigenous Tourism Ontario

• Addressing Barriers to Employment: Many Canadians face barriers to employment or are not yet engaged in the workforce. Connecting these individuals with employers through focused programs can make a big impact, and tourism has a key role to play here.

• Strengthening Post-Secondary Partnerships: Declining enrollments in tourism programs, particularly due to reductions in international students, underscore the need for closer collaboration with post-secondary institutions. By offering co-op placements and internships, we can work together to attract and retain future talent.

• Improving Career Pathway Awareness: Raising awareness of tourism careers at the secondary school level is crucial. There’s a clear opportunity to support educators and parents in highlighting the vast opportunities our industry offers.

• Enhancing the Employment Experience: Improving working conditions and creating a positive employment experience will help make tourism a more attractive option for job seekers, strengthening the industry’s reputation and economic competitiveness.

• Leveraging New Technologies: Technologies like Artificial Intelligence offer the potential to streamline tasks, enabling us to focus more on the guest experience and personal connections that make tourism unique.

• Overcoming Transportation and Housing Gaps: Addressing transportation and housing challenges remains vital for attracting and retaining talent, both in urban and rural areas.

TIAO remains committed to working with our partners across Canada to prioritize and advance these challenges. This work will continue to be a key pillar of our federal and provincial advocacy efforts and the development of Ontario’s new tourism strategy.

While this list of priorities might seem extensive, we encourage members to see the opportunity. Take a moment to reflect on what actions could make a difference in your own business or community. Whether it’s reaching out to a local school to offer an internship, connecting with an employment agency supporting newcomers, or introducing a new training program, each step matters. A “test and learn” approach can help create meaningful progress.

As always, TIAO and our network of partners are here to support you.  Don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance or resources.

A special thanks to Phil, Isabelle, and Evan at Tourism HR Canada for your leadership in hosting this forum.

Sincerely,

Andrew Siegwart

President & CEO

Tourism Industry Association of Ontario