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Closing the 12K Gap: Improving Employment for
Quebec's English-Speaking Community

2019 - 11 - 30

 

Contributors

Executive Summary
Hugh Maynard, Principal Consultant

Iris Unger, Principal Consultant

 

 

 The following report is the result of the work undertaken by the PERT team to date and involves insight from leaders from the education, community, and business sectors. As part of our community consultations, PERT brought together ninety-six individuals from fifty-eight different organizations and institution to work on addressing the most pressing employment issues facing the English-speaking community. The recommendations found in this report are the culmination of the consultations with the minority language community and represent a number of actionable solutions to the most pressing employment issues which stakeholders can respond to in the short, medium, and long term. These solutions are especially important in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, as the employment issues facing the community are exacerbated by the increased health and social services pressures Québec is facing during the pandemic, especially as they pertain to an already at-risk community.

Key Findings:

  • According to the 2016 Census, there were approximately 12,000 more unemployed Englishspeaking individuals than there were French-speaking persons relative to the proportion of each
    language group within the total population;
  • More than half of English speakers born in Quebec now live outside the province. Those with
    higher educational attainment are more likely to leave.
  • The effects of the Covid-19 crisis on Québec’s economy have the possibility of disproportionately
    affecting the English-speaking population and increasing long-standing systemic employment
    issues facing the community.
  • French language training continues to be the greatest barrier to an English-speakers ability to find, maintain, and advance
    within the Quebec workforce.
  • There is a need for improvements in the integration of English-speakers within the Quebec public service.
  • There are challenges with regard to employment program development and delivery intended for English-speakers.
  • There is a need for more flexibility in the services that organizations can offer in order to create community tailored, community programs designed to improve the integration of English speakers in the labour market