Airbus is looking for 700 employees in Quebec

Pandemic layoffs seem to be just a bad memory in the Quebec aerospace industry. Most companies are looking for employees, and Airbus hopes to recruit 700 people this year. In the sector, we hope that this will allow training centers to replenish school benches after years of lean cows.

Production, engineering, information technology… The European giant says it has vacancies in all departments as the production rate of the A220 accelerates and retirements continue. The targets will be publicly announced on Wednesday. They are part of Airbus’ global strategy, which believes it can create 7,000 new jobs worldwide in 2023.

Elsewhere in the country, the multinational wants to add nearly 100 people to its team, particularly in its helicopter division.

The objective is ambitious, concedes Airbus, which made 400 hires in Mirabel last year, where the assembly of the former C Series of Bombardier takes place. There are now nearly 3,000 people working in the complex located in the Laurentians.

“We believe this has great power to attract new recruits locally,” explains Airbus Canada President and CEO Benoît Schultz. We plan to recruit the vast majority of people locally. This is the primary objective, and we believe we can do it. »

Last year, Airbus Canada anticipated 200 retirements (at an average age of 65) spread over five years.

If all goes as planned, two-thirds of the workforce will be devoted to support functions: engineering, finance, information technology. The other hirings will be made to increase the personnel in the assembly plant. The A220 is still in deficit. Airbus produces six aircraft monthly at Mirabel and Mobile, and is aiming for a monthly rate of 14 aircraft around 2025. This is essential to achieving profitability.

Recruits Wanted

The Toulouse giant is not the only one looking for labour.

At Bombardier, which has refocused on business aviation after a painful restructuring, there are currently 400 vacancies in the province. Over five years, the Quebec aircraft manufacturer will have to hire 3,000 people – a target that takes into account retirements and staff turnover.

“We are in recruitment mode and we are working hard to ensure that the next generation is informed,” said spokesperson Mark Masluch. Activities are predictable and stable. »

For representatives of the sector, it is hoped that these are signals that will make it possible to replenish training schools. Beyond advertising campaigns and promotional efforts, there is nothing like a major work provider who is committed to recruiting.

“This shows that the aerospace sector is more resilient than ever. »

According to the organization, there will be some 38,000 vacancies in the sector by the end of the decade. In two years, there should be a shortage in “more than 30 categories of professional positions”, such as machinists and programmers, underlines Aéro Montréal.

In Longueuil, on the South Shore, the École nationale d’aérotechnique (ENA) can accommodate up to 1,300 students for a college education. There were 842 of them last fall, compared to 857 in 2021.

However, the tide finally seems to want to turn, explains the director of the educational establishment, Pascal Désilets. His most recent open house, on February 11, testifies to the change, he believes.

“There were 50% more candidates compared to the previous year, explains Mr. Désilets. We know that half of the students registered at the ENA come to the open days. In terms of registrations, we are currently experiencing our best year since 2015, which was the best of the last decade. We have a lot of hope. »

As for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the current context indicates that aerospace is a “sector of the future for studies,” says business agent Éric Rancourt.

At Airbus, the announcement is timely, since the collective agreement expires at the end of the year. According to Mr. Rancourt, Airbus “will have an opportunity to demonstrate” that it can “offer attractive conditions”.