1708970438 Quebec is launching a pilot project to keep 60 to

Quebec is launching a pilot project to keep 60- to 69-year-olds in work

Legault government Labor Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain is launching a pilot project with the Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ) to catch up with Ontario, which is more successful in retaining its workers aged 60 to 69 in the labor market.

“I am very pleased to announce this investment of nearly $1 million. This project will better equip SMEs thanks to personalized support and promote the recruitment of Quebecers aged 60 and over in their companies,” explained Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Minister of Employment.

In principle, our companies can receive personalized and free support with their research for 35 hours. Targets include construction, manufacturing, retail, and hotel and restaurant services.

There are 175,000 unfilled positions in Quebec, the minister recalled at a press conference on Monday. According to her, there are persistent “myths” that need to be debunked to show Quebecers that it is actually worth returning to work.

According to Quebec, if we had the same employment rate among 60-69 year olds as Ontario last year, there would be about 42,000 more people in the labor market.

At a press conference, Karl Blackburn, CEO of the Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), said he was inspired by the top 30 companies to create a guide to help our SMEs better recruit and retain older candidates.

Control claws

Last Saturday, Le Journal told the story of a 70-year-old cashier who works full-time at a supermarket and will soon have to reduce her hours to avoid the clutches of taxes when she withdraws her RRSPs.

Quebec is launching a pilot project to keep 60 to

A recruitment poster aimed at retirees in the window of a Montreal pharmacy last summer. The continued employment of people over 65 is an important weapon in the fight against labor shortages. Archive photo, Francis Halin

Two years ago, Le Journal reported that the number of workers aged 65 and over increased by 12%, from 173,100 in 2019 to 194,100 in May 2022, to the great delight of employers competing for these workers.

–More details to follow…

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