Statistics Canada reported today that there were only 199,700 vacant jobs in December 2013, the fewest recorded since it first reported these figures for March 2011.
Statistics Canada began tracking job vacancies in response to claims of a labour shortage by governments and corporate Canada. But the number of vacancies falling below 200,000 casts further doubt on the notion that Canada is suffering from a shortage of workers.
The real problem is a shortage of jobs. Statistics Canada calculates that there are 6.3 unemployed workers per available job.
Policymakers should focus on creating jobs and providing adequate benefits to the unemployed, rather than on alleviating phantom labour shortages.
UPDATE (March 19): Interviewed on last night’s The National (CBC video) and quoted in today’s Globe & Mail (page A10), Regina Leader-Post (page D1) and Saskatoon StarPhoenix (page D4).