Despite Unemployment, Skilled Worker Shortage Persists in Quebec – Local Implications for Parc-Extension

While Quebec continues to grapple with high unemployment numbers, businesses—particularly in the manufacturing sector—say they still can’t find skilled workers. It’s a paradox that hits close to home in places like Parc-Extension, where economic precarity, underemployment, and immigration converge in complex ways.
Quebec continues to face a critical shortage of skilled labour in key sectors such as manufacturing and engineering, even as more than 372,000 residents are currently receiving unemployment or social assistance.
Recent data reveals there are 248,770 active Employment Insurance recipients and 123,868 Quebecers receiving social assistance without severe constraints. In theory, these are individuals who are fit for work. And yet, companies across the province still struggle to recruit skilled workers like welders, mechanics, and industrial engineers.
Julie White, President and CEO of Manufacturiers & Exportateurs du Québec, says the problem is as pressing as ever: “I don’t know a single manufacturer who isn’t looking for welders.”
This contradiction is especially relevant in areas like Parc-Extension, where high unemployment intersects with a large immigrant population—many of whom hold international qualifications that often go unrecognized in the local labour market.
Simon Savard, economist and deputy director at the Institut du Québec, points out that while the overall labour shortage is easing since peaking in 2022, the specific shortage of qualified workers has barely improved. “A large number of people seeking work simply don’t have the training required for available positions,” he explains.
The gap has forced many employers to turn to Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs). However, following changes introduced in September 2024, the provincial government tightened rules for TFW eligibility—creating additional obstacles for companies in need of labour.
Even so, Premier François Legault indicated this week that he would support keeping 2,000 foreign workers in regional areas, acknowledging their crucial role in Quebec’s economy.
Julie White emphasizes that hiring TFWs isn’t an easy or cheap fix: “Employers need to handle training, lodging, and paperwork. They do it because they have to—not because they prefer it.”
According to White and Savard, another barrier is regional mobility. Workers are often unwilling to relocate within Quebec to where jobs are available, further compounding the issue.
With a high concentration of underemployed residents and new immigrants, Parc-Extension could become part of the solution—if proper credential recognition and training pathways are put in place.