The recreational marine industry is comprised of a vast array of connected constituents - boat builders, engine manufacturers, marine parts and equipment manufacturing, marine brokers, marinas, yacht clubs, marine service providers, etc.  The recretaional boating industry (directly and indirectly) employs over 100,000 people.  In Ontario, the Ontario Marine Operators Association (OMOA), the largest recreational boating trade association in Canada, represents 650 members: 150 trade associates and 500 marinas and dealers from across the province.  

THE CHALLENGE FACING THE RECREATIONAL BOATING INDUSTRY

The recreational boating industry is faced with a variety of demands that will have a detrimental affect on the industry as a whole in the near future unless action is taken. As the marine industry experiences rapid growth now, and with continued projected growth through 2020, many more skilled people will be required to cope with the growth. Technological advances in our equipment and accessories, environmental control legislation and the increase value of the Canadian dollar will put more demands on an already short supply of technicians. There is also increasing competition for these highly skilled positions (current and projected) from other sectors competing for the same employees.

The marine industry has identified the problem of skills shortage as on of its single largest challenges, in particular mechanical service technicians.  The OMOA has done some recent prliminary skills shortage assessments which indicate in excess of 48% of marinas are currently seeking staff (primarily service technicians), 69% have had difficulty hiring service positions, and over the next 5 years, 45% of marinas report expected losses in service personnel from 1 to 5.5 employees per marinas and 44% of marinas are planning expansions requiring extra swevice personnel.  The recreation boating industry in Ontario if facing a serious challenge.