In the Quebec City region, we are the advance guard. Our region has had an unemployment rate that wavers around 5 per cent for several years. Last year, it was 4.7 per cent, with a labour market participation rate of around 65 per cent, which means that workforce needs are the priority issue for all sectors in the region.
At present, we are mobilizing to attract workers. We are even going on recruiting missions abroad to fill various positions. For information, we are on our 25th international recruiting mission. This is an issue in various growth sectors, be they applied technology, for example, video games and information technology, or the manufacturing industry. We need welders, mechanics, and operators.
This is an issue that has concerned us since 2008. Regardless of how the figures are presented, the situation will not be improving. We have to open ourselves up more to recruiting internationally to fill the labour needs in the region.