Notice of release
Québec, March 28, 2024. – In 2022, labour market conditions continued to improve throughout the province. The improvement was such that several indicators even reached record levels. These findings come from the bulletin Évolution du marché du travail dans les MRC – Bilan 2022 released today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Significant increase in the number of workers
All of the province’s RCMs—except Jamésie in the Nord-du-Québec region—recorded an increase in the number of workers aged 25 to 64. In some RCMs located in the Laurentides, Lanaudière and Capitale-Nationale regions, this growth was particularly strong, at 7.5% or more.
The rate of workers aged 25–64 reached record levels in the vast majority of the province’s RCMs. For the second year in a row, the La Jacques-Cartier RCM in the Capitale-Nationale region had the highest rate of workers, with an all-time high of 87.2%.
Employment income continues to see strong growth
The median employment income of those aged 25–64 stood at $54,300 in Québec in 2022 after increasing by more than 8% for the second consecutive year. This is the first time since data have been available (2002) that median employment income has recorded such strong growth for two years in a row.
At the sub-provincial level, 47 RCMs had an increase higher than the provincial average, with 10 of these RCMs seeing growth above the 10% mark. Employment income grew by an unprecedented 11.7% in the Charlevoix-Est RCM in the Capitale-Nationale region, which was the highest increase in the province.
The median employment income of 25–64 year-olds remained high in mining regions and around the province’s major urban centres. The Caniapiscau RCM ($97,650) in the Côte-Nord region and the Collines-de-l’Outaouais RCM ($69,200) on the outskirts of Gatineau recorded the highest employment income levels.
Self-employment up in RCMs
The number of people aged 25 to 64 who are self-employed was up in about 60 RCMs in 2022. The highest increases in self-employment were recorded in RCMs located to the north of Montréal, such as Matawinie (+13.1%), Mirabel (+11.9%), and Laval (+10.1%).
On the Island of Montréal, the increase in the number of self-employed workers was also high at over 7.6%, particularly because of a marked increase in the passenger transport and the courier and delivery industries. Significant increases were also recorded in the professional, scientific and technical services and personal services sectors.
Tables by RCM
Detailed statistics on the number and rate of workers as well as on the median employment income of 25–64 year-olds in Québec’s 104 RCMs are also available.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.