Quebec aerospace industry needs 3,600 workers

MONTREAL: Quebec’s aerospace industry will need more than 3,600 workers this year as the sector continues to grow, according to a survey of companies.

The Comité sectoriel de main-d'œuvre en aérospatiale (CAMAQ), which represents the manpower interests of the province’s aerospace companies, says the results of its annual employment survey show 3,642 positions need to be filled this year, including engineers, machinists, process planners, furniture makers and finishers, assemblers and aircraft maintenance technicians.

“The economic slowdown really seems to be behind us, to the point where some positions requiring specific skills are difficult to fill,” said Serge Tremblay, executive director of COMAQ in a release. “We can anticipate ongoing challenges on that score if young talent as well as experienced workers do not join the existing workforce.”

The committee said steady compound annual growth of 7.9% has surged over the previous two years, with 3,040 positions added to the sector last year raising the total to 47,279 people.

Based on 215 company responses, Tremblay said hiring was actually higher than anticipated.

“The vast majority of workers on temporary layoff were recalled. Additional human resources will be needed to ensure the progression envisioned by the industry, he said.”

Tremblay cited the interior and exterior finishing of aircraft as one of the sub-sectors experiencing “phenomenal growth,” with a 48% increase in the number of people employed since 2008.

Quebec’s aerospace industry is made up of 215 companies operating in 12 of the province’s 17 administrative regions, with a heavy concentration in the Montreal area.