Aerospace industry | Recruits come back in force in schools

“I have a passion for planes since I was little and I thought it was time. However, Recruits like Valérie Piché. Nevertheless, aerospace training schools count more and more, to the point of being struggling with a beautiful problem: it lacks space to welcome more.

Without drum. Meanwhile, trumpet, establishments such as the Montreal Aerospace School of Aerospace Trades (EMAM) and the National Aerotechnical School (ENA) managed to reverse a decline that was observed at the start of the decade.

This momentum will not alone settle the needs of labor in industry, which saw its number of positions climb 3.4 %, to 43,100, last year-a trend that has not finished taking altitude. However, he has something to reassure many employers.

Machining, tracking, assembly – and disassembly – of engines … In addition, The training stations of EMAM installations are occupied when the director of the establishment, Karine Fournier, welcomes The press.

About 475 students were anticipated in the day quarter, a forecast that could be noted at 550, adds M^me Fournier. Moreover, The capacity could be 1000 people if there were training in the evening. However, at night, which is not currently the case.

The portrait is similar on the Montreal South Shore. For example, ENA could accommodate 1,000 students for college training in the fall, an increase of 22 % compared to four years ago.

“We are also approaching our capacity [1300 élèves]explains Hélène Bailleu. Furthermore, Director General of Cégep Édouard-Montpetit and ENA. Unlike what we have already known, we see a very fast increase. »»

And when you set foot in a training center. no need to wait a long time before you find a livelihood. On school benches, recruits often already know where they aerospace industry | recruits come will work.

In the case of M^me Piché, it will be at Bombardier, in the arrondissement of Saint-Laurent. The 27-year-old woman does not hide it. demand for the workforce was one of the factors that prompted her to abandon the construction sector for aeronautics.

“I was delivery of packages. I was looking for something else,” says Benedict cangé, 39, to an adjacent workshop of M^me Piché. I had looked at the automotive mechanics and that didn’t interest me. Additionally, I arrived aerospace industry | recruits come in sheet metal. I know where I’m going to work afterwards. It’s safe to know that. »»

Aerospace industry | recruits come

Ingredient cocktail

What could have revealed the trend in training schools? There are several elements, but the answer can be summed up in this way: a little of everything.

At the EMAM, for example, the short -term training program (COUD) gave a big helping hand, explains M^me Fournier. The measure finances the training of a person who does not have aerospace industry | recruits come all the skills required to occupy the. job targeted. The EMAM has participated since 2022-2023.

The industry also got their hands on the dough.

“I noticed a big difference in her involvement in the place of young people. ” says the president and chief executor of Aéro Montréal, Mélanie Lussier. Companies are welcoming more and more trainees, they have employees assigned to the next generation. We see them more in schools too to take the lead. »»

Another element also weighs in the scale. The perception of the sector has changed, and better. The images of aircraft nailed to the ground due to the COVVI-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the generalized layoff announcements were relegated to oblivion.

Among the main players in the industry. Bombardier, for example, we ultimately resumed altitude after aerospace industry | recruits come a painful restructuring which was spread over several years.

This renewed interest in recruits against training schools is seen very aerospace industry | recruits come well among employers. According to the Quebec aerospace sectoral labor committee, one could count up to 67,000 positions in the industry in 2031.

Added to this are early retirements. This is what concerns companies like the specialist in DCM group aeronautical parts.

“In a career of several decades, we learn a lot,” recalls its president and chief executive officer, Jean-Charles Raillat. It must be ensured that this knowledge is transmitted to a new generation. Otherwise, these people may take 15 years aerospace industry | recruits come to acquire it. We don’t want to start from scratch. This is why we need a succession. »»

The health crisis has already left traces among manufacturers. adds the manager, given that many workers who approached retirement age decided to bow when everything ended up on break.

At DCM, it was necessary to work hard until the end of 2023 to “stabilize” the situation, says Raillat.