While more than 1.4 million positions will have to be filled by 2028, 80% of which will be created by retirements, our regions are reaching a tipping point that risks causing the Quebec economy to shrink.
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“With us, it hurts even more than in the big centers”, summarizes in interview with the Newspaper Daniel Côté, mayor of Gaspé and president of the Union of Quebec municipalities (UMQ).
“We already do not have an astronomical number of convenience stores and restaurants, if we lose any, there are fewer services for the population and less attractiveness,” he adds.
For François Vincent, vice-president Quebec at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the hour is serious. “It’s clear that the smallest business suffers more,” he warns.
“Quebec has the worst rate in Canada. Among the sectors most affected in the country, there are construction (74%), transport (68%) and accommodation and restaurants (65%), ”he analyzes.
Challenge of the decade
To turn things around, the Couche-Tards launched an offensive to woo inexperienced young people (see below). Tim Hortons closes 20 minutes for breaks. Manufacturers and accountants cry out from the heart.
In the second quarter, 194,195 positions were still vacant. To make matters worse, the working population (15 to 64 year olds) will be shrinking by 2030.
“In several regions of Quebec, the population is aging much faster, so replacing retirements will in itself be the challenge of the next decade,” said the CEO of the Institut du Québec, Mia Homsy.
At Newspaper, the Minister of Labor, Jean Boulet, says he wishes to counter the aging of the population, which threatens the vitality of certain regions.
“As the new Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI), I will pay particular attention to the regionalization of immigration. Newcomers must settle in regions where labor needs are the most important, ”concludes the man who launched“ Operation labor ”on November 30.
♦ Training, re-qualification, integration of people far from the labor market, increase in business productivity, immigration, etc. are among the actions put forward by Minister Boulet.
Cannot compete with a salary of $ 120,000
Courtesy photo
The CEO of Rembourrages Experts Amobi, Stéphane Brown, in Rouyn-Noranda, cannot recruit an upholsterer because the mining companies or large companies in the region offer much higher salaries than the family SME.
An SME in Abitibi, unable to recruit its workforce because the mining companies around offer wages that are too high for it, would like their life to be made easier to recruit temporary foreign workers (TFWs).
“We are a little stuck with the mining companies who offer an average salary of $ 120,000 per year with a secondary five,” sighs Stéphane Brown, associate general manager of Rembourrages Experts Amobi, in Rouyn-Noranda.
“We already supply all of Abitibi. It is certain that we could supply northern Ontario, but we have to say no to many contracts, ”laments the SME with 16 employees, which has a turnover of approximately $ 3 million.
Canvases for boats, ATVs, trailers … the SME needs at least another upholsterer capable of custom-made industrial sewing.
Neglected regions
However, he can not find the rare pearl because multinationals attract students and immigration serves the big cities more, according to him.
“I am not a large company. I am not a multinational. We are a small family business that has grown over time, ”he says.
Stéphane Brown emphasizes that Quebec does not understand the reality of the regions.
“We had the visit of the Minister of the Economy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, last week, in Abitibi. We questioned him a bit about these problems, and we noticed that the government is pulling for large centers, ”he concluded.
– Francis Halin
Lack of accountants in the regions
Courtesy photo
The accountant Monique L. Fortin (standing) and her accountant colleague Patricia Larrivière would like to have succession to accept more contracts.
An experienced accountant from Maniwaki, in the Outaouais, warns the Legault government of the effects of the shortage of accountants, which are being felt in the regions.
“I have a lot of calls. I have at least two calls a week from people looking for an accountant. There is a shortage, especially in the regions, ”says Monique L. Fortin, who has had her accountancy firm of five employees since 1991.
Accounting firms have closed in her corner lately, she laments. “There are going to be people who will turn to accounting perhaps less well done”, explains at the end of the line in a calm tone the figure expert.
She deplores having to pay $ 10,000 in legal fees to bring in workers from abroad. “The rules have to be relaxed,” she said.
$ 100,000 less
In the regions, schools are often further away. Result, the candidates are missing and do not stay, deplores Monique L. Fortin, who would like Quebec to place more emphasis on work-study programs.
“We cannot raise our prices as quickly as we raise wages. Wants not, we are caught in the wheel ”, she illustrates.
For his firm, this lack of personnel rhymes with contract losses of $ 100,000 per year, which is far from trivial. “SMEs are being forgotten and the regions are being forgotten. It is very bad. If nothing happens, there will be a no-return effect, ”she goes so far as to say.
– Francis Halin
No experience? Not serious !
Photo courtesy, Pierre St-Arnaud
Couche-Tard makes several efforts to court young people without work experience.
While the experience is generally valued by employers, this is much less the case in these times of labor shortages. Couche-Tard even launched a recruitment offensive to woo young people with poor resumes.
Posters appeared in the windows of the convenience store chain. “We recruit even if your CV is filled with emptiness”, it is written. Job seekers are offered to bring a curriculum, even if it is blank, and apply.
“It is common to see students get their first job in store during their studies and then see them grow up and work on strategic projects in our teams here”, explained Julien Gauthier, director of human resources for Eastern Canada at Couche-Tard.
The campaign was launched at the end of November and aims to fill 1,000 positions in the 650 Couche-Tard stores. The company is mainly looking for agents, assistant managers and managers.
“Up to now, these efforts and our two national hiring days have had a great response,” emphasizes Mr. Gauthier.
In recent months, the company has also offered bonuses and training to employees, measures which, however, have increased its operating costs.
Closed during breaks
While Couche-Tard has so far avoided store closures, the situation is different for Tim Hortons. In the Portneuf region, very close to Quebec City, a branch even had to close its doors during employee breaks.
“It happened to me once, I went into drive-thru. An employee comes to put cones behind me. She told me: we’re closing 20 minutes for our break, ”a client told us in writing.
Last November, The newspaper reported that several Tim Hortons customers encountered closed doors. The company did not call back The newspaper.
– Olivier Bourque