Acute labour shortages in Quebec, as well as increased state support for immigrant settlement programs, are presenting enormous prospects for immigrants arriving to fill empty jobs in the francophone province.

Quebec has the second-lowest unemployment rate in Canada in September of this year, at 5.7%. Only Manitoba had a lower unemployment rate than La Belle Province, at 5.6 percent.

Nadine Girault, Quebec’s immigration minister, is optimistic about bringing in more foreign employees to address the province’s mounting labour shortages.

According to Quebec’s revised Immigration Levels Plan, up to 70,500 new immigrants would be accepted in 2022.

The estimates include 52,500 immigrants under the previously stated plan, as well as 18,000 to make up the shortfall of newcomers registered during the COVID-19 epidemic.

The rebalancing amount is high because Quebec immigration is expected to fall short of its 2021 objective.

The province said last month that it will increase its investment in immigrant settling programmes.

Girault tweeted in mid-October, “I am glad to announce today a significant commitment of more than $20 million to promote non-profit groups that assist immigrants in settling into our areas.”

While there is no shortage of opportunities in most economic sectors for Quebec job seekers, the Top 5 In-Demand Jobs in Quebec are in information technology (IT), healthcare, and the trades.

The following are the top five most in-demand jobs in Quebec, as reported by the job-search website JobBoom.

1. Computer Network Technicians (NOC 2281)

Because of the pandemic’s increase in internet shopping and working from home, demand for computer network experts has only increased from its already high level.

These are the individuals in charge of establishing, operating, maintaining, and coordinating the usage of local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs), mainframe networks, hardware, software, and related computer equipment. They configure and manage Internet and intranet Web sites, as well as Web-server hardware and software, as well as monitor and optimise network connectivity and performance.

The typical annual income for computer network technicians in Quebec is $58,130, based on a 37.5-hour work week, although individuals at the top of the wage range may earn up to $101,400 per year.

2. Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133)

Electrical utilities, communications companies, electrical and electronic equipment manufacturers, consulting firms, and a variety of manufacturing, processing, and transportation industries, as well as the government, all employ electrical and electronics engineers to design, plan, research, evaluate, and test electrical and electronic equipment and systems.

In mid-November, the Indeed employment website had 162 of these high-paying positions available in Quebec.

These highly trained employees make a typical annual salary of $88,000 in Quebec, but may earn up to $137,150 per year if they perform a conventional 37.5-hour work week.

3. Interactive media developers (NOC 2174)

These are the people that create the magic that powers all of that wonderful computer media.

They create, modify, integrate, and test computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating system-level software, and communications software, as well as for Internet and mobile applications, computer-based training software, computer games, film, video, and other interactive media.

Job Bank advertised 179 positions for these tech-savvy individuals in Quebec alone in mid-November, with a total of 522 similar jobs across Canada.

On a 37.5-hour work week, they make a typical annual salary of $65,000 in Quebec, although wages may reach as high as $112,500 in the Montreal region.

4. Civil engineering technicians (NOC 2231)

Civil engineering technologists and technicians are often employed by consulting engineering and construction firms, public works, transportation, and other government departments to provide technical support and services to scientists, engineers, and other professionals.

Even during the pandemic’s fourth wave in November, there were 89 positions available in Quebec for these highly qualified individuals, with a median yearly income of $57,000 for a typical work week.

Civil engineering technicians in Quebec may make up to $117,900 per year at the top of the pay range.

5. Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)

In mid-November, Quebec alone had 360 open positions for nurse aides, the most of any province in Canada.

In Quebec, these professions make an average annual compensation of $39,500 based on a 37.5-hour work week, although pay may be as high as $60,000 depending on experience and region.

These are the individuals who help nurses, hospital personnel, and physicians in providing basic patient care at hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities for the elderly, and other healthcare institutions.