News Recruitment
Innovative campaign lures more than 1,100 skilled workers to Montreal

An innovative campaign to lure international talent to Montreal has yielded fruit as more than 1,100 skilled workers moved to the city in 2019, according to Montreal International (MI). That’s a 75 per cent increase over the previous year.

The campaign, led by MI and participated in by 229 employers, consisted of 21 international recruitment missions.

It was supplemented by the “I Choose Montreal” initiative that connected with more than 10,000 international students already studying at post-secondary institutions in the Montreal area and an additional 5,500 candidates abroad through seven recruitment missions and three virtual fairs.

Montréal International also supports businesses and workers in their immigration procedures. A total of 573 workers and their families (1,111 peoplein all) were able to benefit from the organization’s advice for temporary residence.

“Through its work, its commitment and its vision, Montréal International contributes enormously to the economic development of Greater Montréal and to its international repute,” said Nadine Girault, Quebec’s Minister of International Relations and la Francophonie.

Foreign direct investment

In 2019, Montréal International supported 89 foreign companies in setting up or expanding in the region, representing record investments of $2.642 billion, up seven per cent compared to 2018 and up 30 per cent compared to 2017. These projects have led to the creation of 7,712 direct jobs and the maintenance of 349 jobs, with an average salary of $84,407.

Once again this year, the high-tech sectors remain the economic pillars of Greater Montréal and showcase the region’s know-how on the international scene. Accounting for more than half of the investments supported by MI in 2019, the software, aerospace, visual effects & animation, video games and artificial intelligence sectors are well to the fore. All of the projects originate from three geographic regions, namely the Americas (52 per cent), Europe (33 per cent) and Asia-Pacific (15 per cent).

For the second year, the MI team continued its activities for promoting and prospecting high-potential international entrepreneurs. Its efforts paid off, with 11 start-ups deciding to settle in Greater Montréal during the year.

About Montréal International

Created in 1996, Montréal International (MI) is a non-profit organization funded by the private sector, the governments of Canada and Québec, the Montréal Metropolitan Community and the City of Montréal. MI’s mandate is to attract and retain foreign investment (companies and start-ups), international organizations, skilled workers and international students in the metropolitan region by offering them support services tailored to their needs.