Highlights
- According to the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS), Statistics Canada recorded 16,255 vacant positions in the Capitale-Nationale administrative region and 7,955 in Chaudière-Appalaches in the second quarter of 2019.
- Compared to the same period last year, the number of job vacancies grew in both regions, increasing by 3,395 in the Capitale-Nationale and 1,565 in Chaudière-Appalaches.
- The job vacancy rate also grew in both regions over the past year, indicating that vacant positions are gaining in number compared to labour market needs.
- The average hourly wage offered by employers for vacant positions reached $19 in the Capitale-Nationale and $18.45 in Chaudière-Appalaches.
Commentary
According to Statistics Canada, the number of job vacancies in the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches regions reached a peak at mid-year. This situation is explained by the healthy employment market combined with labour scarcity observed in both regions. The job vacancy rates also broke the previous records for the second quarter since the beginning of the JVWS data series. Note that the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches rates remained higher than the provincial and national figures.
Average hourly rates for job vacancies in both administrative regions remained below those offered in the province of Quebec ($19.85) and in Canada ($21.30). In this respect, salary growth reached 1.3% in the Capitale-Nationale and 4.8% in Chaudière-Appalaches compared to the same period in 2018. Meanwhile, the proposed wages in the province of Quebec and Canada increased by 2.3% and 3.1%.
Labour shortages are a major challenge for the region. However, various measures associated with the digital shift toward Industry 4.0 will help mitigate the effects of labour scarcity and minimize its consequences on the region’s economic growth. Some of these measures include integrating less-solicited labour pools and attracting qualified workers seeking to move into the region.
Franck Ndefo
Economist
Québec International
