Quebec’s labour market is one of the two tightest in Canada with an unemployment rate of only five per cent – identical to that of Manitoba – with jobs going begging for a want of qualified workers to fill them.
Nowhere is this truer than in the francophone province’s healthcare sector.
“In March, the healthcare and social assistance sector recorded job gains for a second consecutive month, with an increase of 2,800 jobs, up 0.4 per cent,” notes Job Bank, the federal government’s job-hunting and career-planning website.
“Compared to March 2023, the gains amount to 33,500 jobs, representing an annual growth of 5.7 per cent. This increase in the number of workers brings this sector to a new peak of 626,100 employees, up by 16.8 per cent compared to the pandemic low in April 2020. This industry has the second highest employment in Quebec behind the trade sector.”
Human resources giant Randstad Canada reports that many of the hottest jobs in Canada are now those that are customer-facing, service jobs with the trades figuring prominently.
Read More
Canada Wants To Make It Easier To Deport Asylum Seekers
Immigration At Forefront Of Ties Between Canada And Japan+
Canada’s Plan to Hold Immigrants in Federal Prison Met With Criticism
Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs In Quebec
Registered Nurses (NOC 31301)
The shortage of nurses across Canada has many hospitals on life support, forcing them to close down departments for days at a time in some regions, and that labour shortage is perhaps nowhere more acute than in Quebec.
In early May, Indeed had 1,979 job listings for nurses. Job Bank gives a rating of “good” for the job prospects for registered nurses in Quebec.
These are the medical professionals who provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing.
This occupation comes with a median annual wage of $5,075 in Quebec based on a 37.5-hour work week, according to Job Bank data.
Welders and Machine Operators (NOC 72106)
Quebec is not immune to the national shortage of welders that is reaching a crisis level.
“The Canadian welding industry is experiencing a shortage of welding professionals in several provinces and sectors due in significant part to an aging Canadian population, a lack of young people being attracted to the skilled trades and the reduced focus on skilled trades training in secondary and post-secondary institutions,” reports the CWB Group.
“If this shortage is not quickly addressed, it may inevitably lead to a crisis in the industry and its ability to be globally competitive in the future.”
Welders, who assemble metal components, guarantee the quality of structures, and collaborate with engineering teams on complex global projects, earn a media annual wage of $50,700 based on a 37.5-hour work week, Job Bank data reveals. In early May, there were 461 jobs for welders advertised on the Indeed job-hunting website.
“Demand is growing for occupations in manual industries, such as electricians and welders,” notes Randstad Canada.
Electricians (NOC 72200)
Electricians, the tradespeople who lay out, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot and repair electrical wiring, fixtures, control devices and related equipment in buildings and other structures, are in big demand in Quebec.
Indeed listed 316 jobs for electricians in Quebec in early May with jobs paying a median annual wage of $76,050 based on a standard work week, according to Job Bank data.
And this labour shortage is expected to only grow over the coming seven years.
“For electricians (except industrial and power system), over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 45,600 , while 37,200 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” forecasts Job Bank.
Cooks (NOC 63200)
Although there has been a decline in the number of jobs for cooks in La Belle Province, restaurateurs are in still dire need of them as the hospitality sector faces a massive labour shortage with Indeed carrying 2,158 ads for these jobs in Quebec in early May.
Job Bank rates job opportunities for cooks in the province as good for the next three years.
With a median annual income of $33,150 for a cook in Quebec, it’s not the highest-paying work but there are jobs in the hospitality sector everywhere throughout the province.
Food And Beverage Servers (NOC 65200)
The hospitality sector is also hurting badly for servers who bring patrons their food and drink in restaurants and also provide a friendly ambiance.
There were 647 jobs for servers in the province in early May, according to Indeed.
The median annual income for a server before tips in Quebec, based on a 37.5-hour work week, is $33,150.
Business Managers – Sales And Advertising (NOC 10022)
Business managers in sales, advertising and marketing are in great demand in Quebec as companies attempt to innovate and deploy campaigns to drive up sales.
There were 568 job openings listed on Indeed for these sales and marketing professionals in Quebec in early May with that demand only expected to grow over the next seven years.
“For advertising, marketing and public relations managers and other business services managers, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 23,200 , while 21,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
The median annual income for these business managers is $103,135 based on a 37.5-hour work week, data from Job Bank reveals.
Software Developers (NOC 21232)
As the people who write, modify, integrate and test computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating systems-level software and communications software, software developers are in hot demand.
“It’s no surprise that software developers are included in this list!” notes Randstad Canada.
“They are involved in designing, coding, and testing solutions. Their role is to understand the multiple needs of users. This technical approach is fundamental to creating reliable software that meets the diverse requirements of users, making software developers essential players in developing innovative technological solutions.”
In Quebec, software developers earn a median annual wage of $85,722 based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, Job Bank data reveals. The Indeed job website had 1,942 such job listings in Quebec in early May.
Accountants (NOC 11100)
Accountants plan, organize and administer the accounting systems that keep track of that money for businesses, individuals and governments.
In early May, Indeed had 1,284 job listings for accountants in Quebec where the median annual income for these professionals was $76,869 based on Job Bank data for a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
Demand for these financial professionals is growing.
“For financial auditors and accountants, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 88,000, while 79,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
Administrative Assistants (NOC 13110)
With 365 jobs for administrative assistants up for grabs in Quebec on the Indeed website in May and projected labour shortage growth of 11,000 of these office workers across Canada over the coming seven years, there is a lot of opportunity in this field.
“For administrative assistants, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 68,200, while 57,200 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” forecasts Job Bank.
Administrative assistants in Quebec earn a median annual income of $46,878 based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321)
These professionals, who conduct studies, and develop and supervise programs to achieve the best use of equipment, human resources, technology, materials and procedures to enhance efficiency and productivity, are very much in demand in Quebec.
The Indeed website listed 2,284 jobs for engineers of all kinds in Quebec in early May.
“Due to the essential nature of their skills, demand for this type of position is steadily high,” notes Randstad Canada about mechanical engineers.
“Their versatility and ability to innovate in different industries means they are highly valued professionals in the job market.”
In Quebec, industrial and manufacturing engineers make a median annual income of $79,404 based on a standard work week.
