Factories across Quebec are facing a critical challenge: too many machines, not enough hands. Despite a growing pool of unemployed Quebecers, companies still report intense difficulty hiring skilled tradespeople—a trend that’s hitting the region’s industrial sector hard.
According to Statistics Canada, Quebec currently has more than 372,000 people receiving employment insurance or social assistance. But when it comes to filling roles in welding, mechanics, and industrial engineering, qualified applicants remain few and far between.
“It’s not just a shortage—it’s a drought,” says Julie White, head of Manufacturiers & Exportateurs du Québec. Her organization has been sounding the alarm for months, urging the province to address the skills mismatch with urgency.
But bringing in TFWs is far from simple. As White explains, “The costs are high. You have to train them, house them, and navigate a mountain of paperwork. But companies are out of options.”
Last fall, the provincial government introduced stricter rules on hiring TFWs, citing long-term immigration management goals. Yet Premier François Legault has recently shown signs of flexibility, particularly for rural industries. Still, many argue that suburban industrial hubs like the North Shore deserve the same support.
The issue also highlights a troubling lack of regional mobility. Economist Simon Savard notes that few Quebecers are willing to move even short distances for work, meaning that staffing gaps persist even in areas with strong public transit and housing infrastructure like Laval and Terrebonne.
Education may be part of the solution. Technical and vocational schools in the region are under increasing pressure to adapt quickly, but experts say the pipeline of graduates simply isn’t enough to meet demand. Meanwhile, trades remain less popular among youth, who are drawn more to white-collar professions.
In the North Shore, where small and medium-sized manufacturers form the backbone of the economy, this shortage threatens not only production timelines but also the future viability of local industries.
The clock is ticking. Without a coordinated strategy to train workers, incentivize mobility, and streamline credential recognition, businesses in the North Shore may find themselves outpaced—not by their competition, but by their own labour gaps.
