(Montreal) Proof that the labor shortage is hitting hard, the largest job and continuing education fair in Quebec is posting a record number of vacancies.
Updated yesterday at 5:13 p.m.
More than 12,000 jobs are available to visitors to the event, which is being held until Thursday at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. There is also a record number of exhibitors with around 280 organizations, says the instigator of the show, the founder and president of Évènement Carrières, Éric Boutié.
The needs are divided between various sectors of activity, from the public service to the retail trade, including manufacturing, agri-food, security and transportation.
After two years when many employers had to settle for virtual events, a job fair is more relevant than ever, believes Mr. Boutié.
“It’s a human encounter. In recruitment, you have to be able to meet people. At the show, people will be able to ask questions, shake hands and discuss opportunities,” he told The Canadian Press.
A few minutes before the doors of the Montreal Job Fair opened on Wednesday noon, dozens of people were waiting in line.
“More and more, job searches are done electronically. But sometimes, just meeting someone from the company face-to-face, and having a discussion, can bring about a different dynamic,” considers Lawrence Elancy, a graduate in operations and logistics engineering.
He had come to find out about the opportunities available to him in view of the imminent end of his part-time employment contract.
Retired from the health sector since June, Sylvie Lemay came to see the possibilities for a new career and seek some advice to update her CV.
“I’m young and I have loads of energy to do more than stay home. I’m curious, I’m going to see what interests me, ”says the one who was a beneficiary attendant for 35 years.
Gateway for immigrants
At least 50% of visitors are of immigrant origin, mentions Mr. Boutié, who believes that this year the proportion could climb to 60 or 70%.
“It’s often a first entry point for a newcomer,” he says. He will be confronted a little with the labor market. He will be able to meet hundreds of companies that he could not meet only virtually on job sites. »
Rachel De Oliveira, originally from France, hopes to find a job in administration, having worked in catering since her arrival a year ago. She believes that the context of labor shortage will make her job easier.
“I think we’re in a situation where we have the luxury of being able to choose, of going even into areas where we don’t necessarily have experience,” she says.
A survey of exhibitors at the Job Fair reveals that 84% of them believe that the next government of Quebec should welcome more new immigrants to counter the labor shortage, reports the Careers event.
“There is a desire from employers who have told us that if there are more newcomers to Quebec, they are ready to recruit them,” analyzes Mr. Boutié.
At Scierie St-Michel, we believe that the proportion of immigrants among its staff will increase.
“It’s going to be a must for us. We are going to have a lot of retirements in the next two or three years. We won’t have a choice”, indicates the director of health, safety and the environment, Gino Ferland.
The company located a hundred kilometers north of Joliette, in Lanaudière, currently has six Tunisians, three French and four Mexicans, who alternate between work and studies thanks to a partnership with the Cégep de Saint-Félicien.
The sawmill has also set up a paid training program in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Center des services scolaire des Samares to meet labor needs.
For the head of human resources at Sigma-RH Solutions, the process for obtaining a work permit for an immigrant should be simplified.
“We have cases where sometimes the processes were long. It’s still the life of a person behind who can find themselves without a job, ”argues Isabelle Quintard.
The Job and Continuing Education Fair expects to welcome between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors over the two days.
This dispatch was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta Exchanges and The Canadian Press for the news.