The Minister of Employment of the Legault government, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, is launching a pilot project with the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ) to catch up with Ontario, which is more successful in keeping its workers aged 60 to 69 in the market work.
“I am very pleased to announce this investment of nearly $1 million. This project will better equip SMEs, thanks to personalized support that will promote the hiring of Quebecers aged 60 or over within their organization,” indicated Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Minister of Employment.
Our companies will thus be able to have personalized and free support for 35 hours to help them in their research. Construction, manufacturing, retail, and hotel and restaurant services are targeted.
- Listen to the interview with Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Minister of Employment, and Karl Blackburn, President and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, via QUB :
There are 175,000 vacant positions in Quebec, the minister recalled Monday at a press conference. According to her, there are stubborn “myths” that need to be debunked to demonstrate to Quebecers that it does indeed pay to return to work.
Gap with Ontario
According to Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain, if we had the same employment rate as in Ontario last year for 60 to 69 year olds, there would be some 42,000 more people in the labor market, which would give a good helping hand to our SMEs.
Alongside her, Karl Blackburn, CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ), said he was inspired by the 30 best companies to build a guide to help our SMEs better recruit and retain older candidates.
According to the CPQ, barely 8% of companies have a policy or practices for recruiting this type of worker.
The general director of the Order of approved human resources advisors (CRHA), Manon Poirier, who was also present, invited our SMEs to consult a free online practical tool kit to guide bosses who want to know how to attract.
Claws of tax
Last Saturday, The newspaper told the story of a 70-year-old cashier working full time in a convenience store who will soon have to reduce her working hours to escape the clutches of taxes when she withdraws her RRSPs.
A recruitment poster aimed at retirees, in the window of a pharmacy, in Montreal, last summer. Keeping people over 65 in employment is an important weapon in the fight against the workforce shortage.
Archive photo, Francis Halin
Two years ago, The newspaper reported that the number of workers aged 65 and over jumped 12%, from 173,100 in 2019 to 194,100 in May 2022, to the delight of employers, who are snapping up this experienced workforce in stores .