Job prospects Farm Worker, Fruit in the Montérégie Region

Over the past few years (2021-2023), there was a labour shortage for General farm workers in the Montérégie Region. There were more job openings than workers available to fill them in this occupation.

Source Labour Market Information | Recent Trends Methodology

The employment outlook will be good for Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101) in the Montérégie region for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

From year to year, farm size continues to increase, and the concentration of activity has continued within large farms. As a result, productivity gains from investments in equipment and increased use of farm machinery have reduced labour requirements in these businesses.

Despite this, the majority of tasks remain difficult to automate and the industry must rely on these workers to perform work on crop and livestock farms. Recruitment is difficult, and despite improvements in certain working conditions, the industry must rely on temporary foreign workers to fill available jobs.

People are still interested in eating healthy when they can afford it. The development of networks for buying local and short food supply chains promotes the establishment of small, local vegetable production and livestock operations. These new trends create additional employment opportunities for this occupation.

Here are some key facts about Harvesting labourers in the Montérégie region:

• Approximately 2,070 people work in this occupation.
• Harvesting labourers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Agriculture (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, 1152): more than 95%

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology