Job prospects Natural Sciences Professor - University in the Montérégie Region

Over the past few years (2021-2023), there was a major labour shortage for University professors and lecturers in the Montérégie Region. There were far more job openings than workers available to fill them in this occupation.

Source Labour Market Information | Recent Trends Assessment Methodology

The employment outlook will be very good for University professors and lecturers (NOC 41200) in the Montérégie region for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Employment in this occupation depends on student enrolment, government investments in education, and public and private funding for university research.

According to the projections of the Ministère de l'Éducation, an increase in the number of students is anticipated in the medium term. Growth is expected to come from the combined effect of a significant increase in the number of international students, as well as a moderate increase in the number of Quebecers enrolling in undergraduate studies.

The labour shortage in the job market in general creates an environment conducive to students dropping out of school. Major investments in education are planned over the next few years to encourage graduation, student retention and worker requalification.

Measures are also intended to promote student mobility, by attracting students from other regions of Quebec outside major urban centres or from abroad.

The precarious employment status of lecturers is, however, an important issue for members of this profession. Lecturers are also referred to as part-time or contract teachers, and the amount of undergraduate teaching that they do compared to incumbents has been increasing in recent years.

The availability of university education with non-traditional teaching methods (entirely distance or hybrid) continues to grow. In addition to changing the technical and pedagogical qualifications required of teachers, this could have a negative impact on the number of teachers, as these courses have more students per group than in-person courses.

While the employment outlook for this occupation is very good at the provincial level, it will be moderate in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

Here are some key facts about University professors and lecturers in the Montérégie region:

• Approximately 1,490 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• University professors and lecturers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Educational services (NAICS 61): more than 95%

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology