The Quebec government announced 17 missions abroad to recruit workers and reduce shortages in many regions of the province. The launch of the new version of "Journées Québec" will allow business owners and various ministries and non-governmental organizations, such as "Québec international," "Montréal international," and the Drummondville Economic Development Corporation (SDED), to recruit internationally.

To participate in "Journées Québec," a company with 49 employees or fewer must pay $1,500. Companies with 50 or more employees must pay double this amount. The government aims to absorb 3,000 immigrants through "Journées Québec" by March 31, 2023, which is double the number of immigrants attracted by the province under the 2021-2022 edition of the same initiative.

For example, in April 2022, there were about 27,000 job vacancies in the Quebec City area and about 11,000 job vacancies in the Chaudière-Appalaches area.

The Quebec government wants 22% of labor needs to be met by immigrants. The recruitment missions will specifically target Morocco, Brazil, France, Mexico, and Colombia.

These missions will especially target people practicing crafts and professions that are in high demand in Quebec, especially in health, education, childcare services, information technology, engineering, and construction. Focus will be on French-speaking countries or countries whose populations tend to speak French as a second language.'

The company "Supermétal," which employs 350 staff and operates factories in the cities of Lévis and Sherbrooke in Quebec and in the city of Leduc in Alberta, doubts that the Quebec government’s announcement will change the situation. Jean-Philippe Dassault, human resources director at "Supermétal," says, "The shortage of staff is glaring. Here, in Lévis, we lack about 30% of our workforce. In Sherbrooke, we could double the number of our employees."

In 2019, "Supermétal" carried out a recruitment mission in Colombia by itself and managed to hire 40 people. The company estimates the cost of recruiting each employee to be between $7,000 and $10,000. Dassault says, "But the problem is not solved yet, and international recruitment is the main solution according to the company. We have good conditions in our factories, but they are not enough to attract local labor."

The Quebec Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Solidarity confirms, "Quebec has set itself the goal of receiving more than 50,000 immigrants annually in the coming years, but 'Journées Québec' will have no impact on this goal."