Saskatchewan Sector Profile: Agriculture

Highlights

  • The sector accounts for 5.2% of the province's total employment. Crop and animal production contributed $3.89 billion to the province's annual GDP in 2021.
  • The median hourly wage for agriculture sector employees in Saskatchewan was $24.00/hr in 2021.
  • There is a generation of farmers retiring and there are not enough young farmers to replace them. The total number of farm operators in Saskatchewan has declined (-1,210) from 2016.
  • Farm operators may look to employ temporary foreign workers to fill vacant positions as a result of local labour shortages.

Provincial Overview

There were approximately 28,600 individuals employed in Saskatchewan's agriculture sector in 2021. This sector includes farms mainly involved in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting animals from their natural habitats, and providing related support activities. Over half of all those employed within the sector are self-employed (72.2%). This sector accounts for 5.2% of the province's total employment, while crop and animal production contributed $3.89 billion to the province's annual GDP in 2021. [1] The median hourly wage for agriculture sector employees in Saskatchewan was $24.00/hr in 2021. [2]

Chart showing sector employment as a percentage of all industries in 2021

Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, ESDC custom table (2021)

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5% of provincial employment comes from this sector

Farms in the province accounted for the biggest share of Canada's total farm area (39.2%). [3] Employment in agriculture is most heavily concentrated in Prince Albert and Northern economic region, accounting for 28.0% of the sector's total employment. The Swift Current – Moose Jaw region had the next highest share of employment (24.1%), followed by Yorkton – Melville (17.5%), Regina – Moose Mountain (15.0%), and the Saskatoon – Biggar (15.0%) economic regions.

The agriculture sector includes the following subsectors: crop production, animal production, mix farming, and support activities for agriculture. Approximately 19,000 people in the province were employed in crop production, accounting for 66.0% of the sector's total employment.

The subsector with the next biggest share of employment is animal production, which employed 7,300 individuals in 2021 and accounted for a quarter of the sector's total employment. In 2021, farms in Saskatchewan reported the second largest number of cattle and calves in Canada, which accounted for 21% of the country's total. [4] The province also accounted for close to one-third of Canada's beef cows in 2021, second largest in the country at 1.1 million. Approximately 1,500 or 5.1% of the province's agriculture employment was on farms with both crops and livestock. [5]

Support activities for agriculture include occupations providing support services that are essential to agricultural production, including crop harvesting, weed control, cattle registration, feedlot cleaning, and related services. In 2021, the support activities for the agriculture subsector employed 1,100 individuals in Saskatchewan, which accounted for 3.5% of the employment of the sector.

Line graph showing subsector employment from 2011 to 2021

Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, ESDC custom table

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Subsector Employment

Year Crop
Production		 Animal
Production		 Mix
Farming		 Support Activities
for Agriculture
2011 24,600 13,900 1,900 1,400
2012 25,800 13,400 1,700 1,000
2013 26,200 14,900 2,900 1,500
2014 27,100 16,000 2,200 1,100
2015 25,300 14,000 2,500 1,100
2016 24,600 15,800 1,200 1,200
2017 21,100 14,300 900 1,700
2018 21,300 15,000 900 1,400
2019 22,000 16,100 1,400 1,300
2020 20,500 13,700 1,400 1,400
2021 19,000 7,300 1,500 1,000

Note: Figures shown are employment estimates

The agriculture labour force has historically been a male-dominated field, a trend that remained in 2021. Females accounted for less than a quarter (22.6%) of the sector's employment. Female employment was the highest in the animal production subsector (36.4%), followed by mix farming (33.3%), crop production (23.7%), and support activities for agriculture (18.2%).

Sector Trends

The number of farms in Saskatchewan, as well as the area farmed, has shrunk compared to 2016.

In 2021, there were 34,128 farms in Saskatchewan, a 1.1% decrease compared to 2016. Oilseed and grain farms (20,438) are also down 5.0%; however, cattle ranching farms (7,732) are up 6.1% over the same period. [6]

Saskatchewan reported 60.3 million acres of farm area in 2021, which was the largest share in Canada at 39.2%. The province's farming area has decreased slightly since 2016 (-2.1%). Cropland makes up the majority of the total farm area in Saskatchewan (66.9%) and the province accounts for 43.1% of Canada's total cropland, virtually unchanged from 2016 (-0.4%). [7]

Saskatchewan plants more wheat and canola than any other province.

In 2021, canola was the most seeded crop in Saskatchewan with 12.1 million acres and comprising 53.9% of Canada's total canola area. This amounted to an increase of 7.7% when compared to 2016 and 22.4% when compared to 2011. [8]

The province's second largest crop in 2021 was wheat. Over 12 million acres of wheat was planted, accounting for more than half (51.2%) of Canada's wheat area. The seeded area is slightly down from 2016 (-0.9%), but higher than 2011 (+7.7%). [9]

Oats, barley and lentils are also notable crops. Almost 1.65 million acres oats, 3.71 million acres of barley and 3.79 million acres of lentils were planted in 2021. Oats and barley saw larger areas seeded when compared to 2016 (19.5% and 49.8%, respectively). However, less lentils were seeded when compared over the same period (-25.8%). [10]

China's ban on canola seeds and severe droughts has had a negative affect on Saskatchewan's agricultural sector.

In March 2019, China banned Canadian canola imports from Viterra Inc. and Richardson International Limited. [11] According to the Canola Council of Canada, Canada's canola seed exports to China dropped from $2.8 billion in 2018 to $800 million in 2019, recovering slowly in 2020 to $1.4 billion and then to $1.8 billion in 2021. [12] In May 2022, China announced the lifting of the ban, reinstating market access for Viterra Inc. and Richardson International Limited. [13]

Meanwhile, severe drought affected farmers' yields and devastated crop quality in 2021. Wheat and canola production were down 48.1% and 45.4% respectively in 2021 [14] compared to 2020. Crop production's share of GDP plummeted from $6.76 billion to $3.59 billion (-46.9%) over the same period, [15] a key contributor to Saskatchewan's low GDP in 2021. [16]

Saskatchewan is among Canada's leaders in several livestock categories.

In 2021, the number of cattle and calves in the province was approximately 2.7 million, an increase if 2.2% when compared to 2016. Bison numbers have also grown since 2016, up 30.8% to 52,860 in 2021 and accounted for 35.3% of the country's total amount. The number of pigs has declined over the past decade and was below one million in 2021. There are 7% less pigs in Saskatchewan in 2021 when compared to 2016. [17]

Moving to poultry, the number of hens and chickens have grown 12.2% from 2016 to 2021 and 20.6% from 2011 to 2021. In contrast, the number of turkeys has fallen 63.5% in 2021 compared to 2016. [18]

The average age of farm operators continues to rise as the total number of farm operators declines.

According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, the total number of farm operators in Saskatchewan continues its pattern of decline, down 2.7% (-1,210) from 2016 and 10.8% (-5,335) from 2011 to 2022. Of the province's 44,140 farm operators in 2021, male operators (32,130) dropped 5.7%, whereas female operators (12,010) rose 6.7%, when compared to 2016. [19]

Charts showing sector employment distribution in 2021

Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, ESDC custom table

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Of those employed in 2021:

  • 72% were self-employed
  • 23% were female, 77% were male
  • Employment distribution by age
    • 15-24 years: 7%
    • 25-54 years: 41%
    • 55+ years: 51%, compared to 22% in all industries

The average age of Saskatchewan's farm operators rose to 55.8 in 2021, just below the national average age of 56. Continuing in the same year, the number of operators under 35 years of age and those between 35 and 54 years fell 2.7% and 16.2% respectively when compared to 2016. Meanwhile, those 55 years and older increased 5.7% over the same period. [20] There is a generation of farmers retiring and there are not enough young farmers to replace them.

Over the last decade, employment in this sector has been trending downwards.

From 2011-2019, employment in agriculture was on a slight decline, with a reduction of 900 jobs over the period (-2.2%). However, from 2019-2021, employment in this sector significantly reduced by 12,000 (-29.4%). Employment decline was accelerated during this period because of the COVID-19 pandemic and a year of devastating droughts. Surprisingly, over the same period, the number of temporary foreign workers increased by 10.2%. [21]

Line graph showing sector employment from 2011 to 2021

Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, ESDC custom table

Show graphic in plain text

Sector Employment

Year Employment (Total) Full-time Part-time
2011 41,700 36,100 5,600
2012 41,900 36,100 5,900
2013 45,500 38,600 6,900
2014 46,400 39,300 7,100
2015 43,000 37,100 5,900
2016 42,900 37,100 5,700
2017 38,000 33,100 4,900
2018 38,600 33,300 5,300
2019 40,800 34,900 6,000
2020 36,900 32,200 4,700
2021 28,800 24,300 4,500

Note: Figures shown are employment estimates. Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.

Employment Outlook

As pandemic restrictions lift and weather conditions improve, this sector's employment is in a good position to recover.

According to the Conference Board of Canada, their two-year outlook for Saskatchewan appears promising. The sector will see significant growth after last year's poor yield. [22] In addition, soaring wheat prices has led to an increase in seeded area. There is an estimated 1.28 million more acres of wheat planted in 2022 (+10.6%) than in 2021. [23]

The province's latest crop report indicates that current crop conditions across the province range from fair to good. [24] If the province continues to receive adequate moisture, crops will be plentiful and employment in Saskatchewan's agriculture sector will be poised to rebound at harvest time.

In 2021, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan announced a new program, the Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program. Funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the five-year program aims to develop young leaders and prepare them to take on active leadership roles in the agriculture industry. [25]

The federal government has lifted international travel restrictions, and more recently, suspended restrictions that prevented unvaccinated passengers to travel by plane or train in Canada. The easing of these restrictions opens the door for people inside and outside of Canada to seek and obtain employment in the province, including in the agricultural sector.

One factor that may hinder the sector's employment outlook is that many people have used the pandemic to upgrade their skills and change occupations. In May 2022, Saskatchewan reached an all-time employment record of 587,000 [26] , yet staff shortages in the province's hospitality sector is also at an all time high. [27] The agricultural sector will be competing with other industries for workers. Some farm operators may look at temporary foreign workers to fill their vacant positions.

Occupation of Interest: Managers in Agriculture

  • Employment Outlook: Fair. Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions; however, several positions will become available due to retirements in 2022-2023.
  • Duties: Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations and functions of farms. Employees in this group usually own and operate their own establishment.
  • Experience and Education: Extensive farming experience, obtained as a farm supervisor, specialized crop or livestock worker is usually required. A university degree in a related field may be required for some positions.
  • Employment (2021): 20,400 across the province
  • Wages: Due to high self-employment, net operating income varies and is dependent on factors such as farm type, climate, and cost of inputs.

For more information, see the Managers in Agriculture Market Report on Job Bank.

Bar graph showing occupational employment from 2011 to 2021

Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, ESDC custom table

Show graphic in plain text

Occupational Employment

Year Employment
2011 32,100
2012 33,100
2013 34,400
2014 35,600
2015 33,500
2016 33,000
2017 28,500
2018 28,100
2019 29,000
2020 26,100
2021 20,400

Note: Figures shown are employment estimates

Note

In preparing this document, the authors have taken care to provide clients with labour market information that is timely and accurate at the time of publication. Since labour market conditions are dynamic, some of the information presented here may have changed since this document was published. Users are encouraged to also refer to other sources for additional information on the local economy and labour market. Information contained in this document does not necessarily reflect official policies of Employment and Social Development Canada.

Prepared by: Labour Market Information (LMI) Directorate, Service Canada, Western Canada and Territories Region

For further information, please contact the LMI team.

Endnotes

  1. Statistics Canada.  Table 36-10-0402-02  Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by industry, provinces and territories, growth rates (x 1,000,000). ↑

  2. Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0064-01 (formerly CANSIM 282-0072) Employee wages by industry, annual. Accessed July 26, 2022. ↑

  3. Statistics Canada. June 15, 2022. Saskatchewan continues to live up to the title of breadbasket of Canada ↑

  4. Ibid ↑

  5. Ibid ↑

  6. Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0166-01. Farms classified by farm type, Census of Agriculture historical data. ↑

  7. Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0153-01. Land use, Census of Agriculture historical data. ↑

  8. Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0359-01. Estimated areas, yield, production, average farm price and total farm value of principal field crops, in metric and imperial units. ↑

  9. Ibid ↑

  10. Ibid ↑

  11. CBC News (March 26, 2019). China's crackdown on Canadian canola expands as 2nd company, Viterra, has licence revoked. ↑

  12. Canola Council of Canada (May 18, 2022). Canola Council statement on China's removal of restrictions for canola exporters. ↑

  13. CTV News (May 26, 2022). Sask. canola farmers celebrate China's move to ban. ↑

  14. Government of Saskatchewan Saskatchewan's Dashboard - Crop Production ↑

  15. Statistics Canada.  Table 36-10-0402-02  Gross domestic product (GDP) at basic prices, by industry, provinces and territories, growth rates (x 1,000,000) ↑

  16. CBC News (May 04, 0222). Sask. only Canadian province that saw GDP drop in 2021: Statistics Canada. ↑

  17. Statistics Canada.  Table 32-10-0155-01  Selected livestock and poultry, Census of Agriculture historical data ↑

  18. Ibid ↑

  19. Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0230-01. Characteristics of farm operators, Census of Agriculture historical data. ↑

  20. Ibid ↑

  21. Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0218-01. Temporary foreign workers in the agriculture and agri-food sectors, by industry. ↑

  22. Conference Board of Canada (May 31, 2022). Rising Prices and Falling Dominoes: Provincial Two-Year Outlook. ↑

  23. Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0359-01. Estimated areas, yield, production, average farm price and total farm value of principal field crops, in metric and imperial units. ↑

  24. Government of Saskatchewan (June 16, 2022). Crop Report for the Period of June 7 to June 13 2022. ↑

  25. Government of Canada (November 22, 2021). Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan continue support for the Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program. ↑

  26. Government of Saskatchewan (June 10, 2022). More People Working In Saskatchewan Than Ever Before. ↑

  27. Global News (May 24, 2022). Staff shortages in Saskatchewan hospitality sector at an all-time high. ↑

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