Electrical engineers, electricians, mechanics… the electrification of the economy will pay off for Quebecers who will make the leap into these sectors of the future, noted The newspaper.
“I will always have work. It’s an extremely varied job,” smiles Zachary Demeules, 18, a vocational diploma student in electricity at the Center de formation professionnelle des Moulins, in Terrebonne.
“It will create a lot of jobs. All of our graduates are placed before completing their studies,” adds his teacher Stéphane Gilbert.
Last Tuesday, the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, displayed his colors in training and requalification of the workforce.
“Electrical engineers, electricians as well as trades in the installation, maintenance and repair of certain equipment will in particular be increasingly sought after,” he said.
Lots of engineers
By 2030, more than 71,194 engineering or mechanical jobs, such as electrical engineers, will be in demand, according to a recent study by EnviroCompétences.
Other areas, such as equipment maintenance, will need 16,554 people: installers, mechanics… (see table below)
Also some losers
The acceleration of the green economy will, however, set back other sectors, such as service stations (-2,370 jobs) and refineries (-2,306 jobs).
“At the time of horse-drawn carriages, when automobiles arrived, there were job losses among blacksmiths, but other jobs were created afterwards,” image Pierre Langlois, mobility consultant.
However, the problem, according to Dominique Dodier, general manager of EnviroCompétences, is that young people do not yet know enough about these green professions.
What can be done to respond to this job gain?
“We must requalify the workforce and increase the number of training programs,” she argues.
In addition to electrical engineering positions, trades such as body repairers, repairers and mechanics will change completely.
“There are new electronic systems with sensors, so you will have to have skills. These trades will become more specialized, and therefore more profitable,” explains Stéphane Pascalon, president of Club Tesla Québec.
Two different worlds
At the Saint-Jérôme Road Transport Training Center, its assistant director, Sébastien Roy, is already modifying its programs to adapt.
“We have just added 42 hours of electrification to our heavy vehicle mechanics program. We have an electric bus,” he points out.
For Jérémie St-Jean, 20 years old, finishing in mechanics, there is a world between gasoline and electric, which requires a certain meticulousness.
“There are still greasing points and lubrication, but there is no more gas engine maintenance to do,” he observes.
” It’s urgent. The turnover of electrification companies has jumped by more than 333% in the last five years, so we are looking for people,” concludes Sarah Houde, CEO of Propulsion Québec.
♦ Until Wednesday, Propulsion Québec is organizing a first international summit on electric and intelligent transportation at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
Five jobs of the future linked to the ecological shift
1. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
- Description : estimate costs, design of components and networks
- Example of displayed salary: $65,000 to $90,000
2. EQUIPMENT INSTALLER AND ELECTRICIAN
- Description : install, inspect and experiment with systems and circuits
- Example of displayed salary: 60 000 $ et 75 000 $
3. BODY REMOVAL
- Description : estimate damage by removing broken parts from the vehicle
- Salary : $42,000 to $53,000
4. BODY REPAIR
- Description : repair part or all of the body parts of the car
- Salary : $60,000 to $71,000
5. MECHANIC
- Description : inspect, disassemble, repair and adjust automotive parts
- Salary : 57 000 $ et 72 000 $
Source: EnviroCompétences, Indeed and Emploi-Québec
Two declining jobs
1. SERVICE STATION CLERK
- Description : perform customer payment and tank filling
- Example of displayed salary: of 29 500 $ et 37 400 $
2. REFINERY MACHINERY OPERATOR
- Description : monitor, adjust and maintain petroleum plant processing equipment and facilities
- Example of displayed salary: 77 000 $
Source: EnviroCompétences, Indeed and Emploi-Québec