Quebec’s ability to design “the aerospace of tomorrow” should allow this key sector of the province’s economy to be attractive to skilled workers from around the world, said Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, so that t is not necessary for the time being to set up financial incentives to counter the labor shortage.
Mr. Fitzgibbon will spend the next week in France on the occasion of the Paris Air Show, which will open on Monday against the backdrop of a crying need for professionals in the field for Quebec companies.
Montréal International will also be on hand to help 12 companies, including Bombardier, Airbus and Groupe Meloche, present nearly 200 job offers during this meeting, which is a must for players in the global aerospace industry.
Quebec, believes the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, will be able to do well in this regard.
“Clearly, we want to help design the aerospace of tomorrow through innovation, and then I think we still stand out on that side. Let’s talk about carbon neutrality, which will eventually affect the industry, it goes through sustainable fuel, it goes through hybrid engines, so we are very recognized in that, ”said Mr. Fitzgibbon from Paris on Sunday during a press briefing.
“We also want to diversify, which we manage to do. The space side is starting to develop in Quebec, with a few companies that have already made announcements and then others are coming. »
The aerospace sector currently accounts for 37,200 jobs in Quebec — a figure that’s down from the all-time high of 40,000 jobs held in the province a few years ago, but is back to pre-pandemic job numbers.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, the president and general manager of Aéro Montréal, Mélanie Lussier, however, recently pointed out that there would be 38,000 positions to be filled within 10 years, taking into account replacements and growth.
Noting that the labor shortage “is not just a Quebec issue,” Minister Fitzgibbon reiterated that the Quebec aerospace industry enjoys a strong international reputation.
“We are starting to see momentum, then because of new technologies, I think we are able to attract talent,” he said, citing in particular the work on artificial intelligence.
No need for financial incentives
In its “Quebec Aerospace Strategy — Horizon 2026”, the Quebec government has provided a financial framework of $334 million for this sector, including more than $70 million for research and innovation.
Mr. Fitzgibbon explained that all these sums invested in innovation will make Quebec industry more modern and avant-garde, which will de facto ensure that workers from all over the world will decide to come and work in the province.
There are many industries and businesses in Quebec that complain about the labor shortage, but as a general rule, the industry [aérospatiale] not complaining about it, in the sense that they are able to attract talent.
Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy
Thus, it is not in the plans “for the moment” to put in place financial incentives to convince workers to choose Quebec, but the Minister will remain attentive to the needs of businesses if the situation were to change. .
“We are not here at the moment. If we were ever to see that we were having trouble recruiting, maybe we would go there. To date, I would say that we have not had to do it. […] But it is clear to me that if I was told that we lack engineers and that we are not able to recruit, something should perhaps be done,” said Mr. Fitzgibbon.
important meeting
The Paris Air Show will be in its first presentation since 2019 – it is held every odd year, but was canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19.
This year, the Quebec delegation that will take part will bring together more than 150 participants from some fifty businesses and educational establishments.
In addition to labor issues, Mr. Fitzgibbon intends to promote “why Quebec should be an important place of investment” with large global companies, in addition to highlighting the strength of the “long” chain of provincial supply.
“We don’t take anything for granted, because things change,” he said.
The minister promised to make three “interesting” announcements there on Tuesday, while on Monday, the federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, will make an “important announcement concerning sustainable aviation”.
With information from Stéphane Rolland