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Quebec is the province hardest hit by the labor shortage

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Maria Gill
Maria Gill
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Labor shortages have been particularly felt in Quebec, forcing most businesses to refuse sales, or even permanently close their doors, according to a recent survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Notably, this shortage has forced business leaders and their employees to work longer hours to compensate, up to 63% and 45%, respectively.

The sectors of residence (79%), restaurants (70%) and construction (65%) are particularly affected by this increase in working time.

“The shortage of manpower has resulted in three out of five managers of small and medium-sized businesses working longer hours, and more importantly in certain sectors. Indeed, it has the effect of a controlling tool on sectors of economic activity in Quebec,” declared François Vincent in a press release, Quebec Vice President at CFIB.

Two out of five SMEs have had to turn down sales or contracts due to staff shortages, with 26% having to cancel or postpone projects.

This result is seen in the construction (67%) and manufacturing (45%) sectors, but also in the restaurant sector (48%) where many closures have taken place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of job vacancies also increased by 88% in Quebec between the fourth quarter of 2019 and 2020, going from 126,730 to 238,140.

So it’s time for Quebec to adopt a plan to reduce the tax burden, improve tax credits to combat labor shortages and increase the candidates available through permanent immigration. Mr Vincent added: The longer we wait to act, the more difficult it will be to climb the coast and the greater the negative effects on our economy.

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The survey was conducted with 1,332 CFIB members in Quebec from March 14 to April 7, 2022.


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