More than 1,500 people at CargoM Career Day - Hundreds of vacancies in transportation and logistics

MONTRÉAL, Nov. 6, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - CargoM, the Logistics and Transportation Metropolitan Cluster of Montréal, kicked off its major recruitment and trades demonstration event in the presence of Jean D'Amour, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

More than 1,500 participants and members of the logistics and maritime, road, rail and air transportation industries converged today on Alexandra Pier in Old Montréal to discover the hundreds of job openings in Montréal's transportation and logistics industry. "This second edition has been a resounding success. Interested candidates had the opportunity to connect with many leading employers seeking specialized workers," said Mathieu Charbonneau, CargoM's Executive Director.

Organized in partnership with the Direction régionale de Services Québec de l'Île-de-Montréal, this event aims to promote these high-potential sectors and their promising employment prospects. The success of many large-scale projects currently being promoted by industry members depends on having a skilled workforce. "We must ensure that the training programs and necessary mechanisms are in place to attract the next generation of workers so that companies can keep growing and contributing to Québec's economic growth," added Mr. Charbonneau.

The Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity, Mr. François Blais said: "Events such as Career Day not only help to raise awareness about a dynamic sector of the Québec economy, but also help match the needs of companies and specialized workers looking for a stimulating job. The Québec government is proud to support an event designed to help companies in this sector meet this challenge in a context increasingly characterized by a scarcity of skilled labour."

"The growth of international trade can only add momentum to Québec's booming logistics sector," said Mr. D'Amour. "In addition to generating interesting career opportunities, this expansion makes it possible to take full advantage of our uniquely favourable geographic location which provides direct, year-round access to the continent's heartland."

Many jobs to be filled fast
The freight transport and logistics industry offers many interesting careers for new graduates as well as for experienced workers seeking a new challenge. Labour needs will increase over the next few years as many workers retire and numerous projects get underway. "According to a study conducted by Camo-route, more than 20,000 Class 1 driver positions need to be filled within 24 months, not counting the needs for other classes and for dispatchers. For officers in the maritime sector, for example, the placement rate for graduates of the Institut maritime du Québec is over 90%. In addition, jobs in the logistics, rail and air sectors also offer a variety of interesting opportunities worth seizing," explained Mr. Charbonneau.

A multi-faceted event
High points of this event:

• Meetings with many companies looking for a specialized workforce;
• Presentations about training in logistics and freight transport;
• Experiential area for trades, including simulators for driving heavy trucks, trains and crane operation, as well as a truck display;
• Conference presented by Academos: How do you find a job through social media?

About CargoM
Created in 2012, CargoM (www.cargo-montreal.ca - @CargoMtl) brings together the players in Greater Montréal's logistics and freight transport industry, educational institutions, research centres, sector associations and unions around shared objectives in order to increase cohesiveness, competitiveness, growth and reach. The logistics and transportation industry in the greater metropolitan area represents 122,000 jobs in transportation and warehousing, 6,300 institutions and over $4.3 billion in economic benefits for Greater Montréal.

CargoM's activities receive financial support from the ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation (MESI), the ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Occupation du territoire (MAMOT), the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, and all its members.

SOURCE CargoM