Closing wage gap will help address N.B. labour shortage, government says

Closing the wage gap between women and men will help address New Brunswick's growing labour shortage, the province's minister of family and community services said Tuesday.

As more men seek higher-paying jobs in Western Canada, boosting immigration may not be enough to meet the need for skilled labour in New Brunswick, Carmel Robichaud told a business conference.

"We have a group of people in the province of New Brunswick who are working but are not at their full potential," she said. "We need women, who make up 52 per cent of the population, we have to train them, and change the societal attitudes towards the work of women."

The minister said that ensuring women are paid the same as their male counterparts will boost productivity and employee retention.

LINK: CBC Atlantic