QUÉBEC’S AGING MANPOWER

• From now until the year 2011, the working population will slowly diminish over time.
• Half the people are taking early retirement before the age of 60.
• The growth of the active population is decreasing; the workers between the ages of 45 and 64 make up roughly 38% of the population. By the year 2010, it is expected that this number will reach approximately 45%.
• In rural regions, we can observe an increased decline in the number of young people ages 15 to 34, entering the work force. As a result, there is a significant increase in the number of older workers.
• Workers 45 and older, put one and a half times more efforts than younger workers to reintegrate into the labour market.
•  In Québec, the employment sectors that are most affected by the aging manpower are: public administration, health care, social services, education and construction sectors. It is to be also noted that in the Outaouais region; these sectors represent the majority of jobs. Furthermore, in the province of Québec, 40% of the construction workers are more than 45 years old.
•  According to Emploi-Québec Outaouais, it has been estimated that there will be approximately 29,300 jobs available between 2002-2006. Approximately 57% of these jobs will be coming from people who are taking their retirement and the other 43% of jobs will be newly created.
• According to Emploi-Québec Outaouais, all levels of education will be offering opportunities to job seekers, particularly those who have a technical course and/or an intermediate diploma (secondary 5 or less). These levels of education represent more than half the jobs available.

* Sources: Emploi Québec Outaouais, May 2003.

Census 2001.