More and more workers in the Québec region are retiring, but the number of young people on the job market is not enough to replace them.
Throughout the province, the labor shortage is slowing growth and affecting many businesses.
However, the Capitale-Nationale region is the only one to be so hard hit by a phenomenon associated with the aging of the population: there are fewer people entering the labor market than there are leaving it.
According to a study by Québec International, in 2021, 86 young people are ready to enter the job market for every 100 people who retire in the Québec region.
There is therefore a shortfall in filling vacancies, especially in the hotel, restaurant and retail sectors.
“The scarcity of labor which is, yes, demographic, but also which can be explained by the dynamism of the labor market in the region of Quebec. However, what we see is that we do not have enough hands to contribute to this market or meet demand,” explained Émile Émond, economist at Québec International.
Entrepreneurs in this region must therefore implement strategies aimed at attracting workers and promoting their retention.