Most In-Demand Jobs in Quebec for Newcomers in 2026

Editorial review: August 2026. Rates, documents and procedures may change. Before leaving home or paying a fee, confirm the requirements with the responsible institution.

Living and working in Quebec

Even though it is not a preferred immigration route for Brazilians, the province receives between 30,000 and 50,000 newcomers each year to serve a constantly growing job market that suffers from a lack of qualified labor. If you are one of the professionals I will list below and have the French language as an asset on your resume, perhaps you should consider starting your search on this list of the most sought after jobs in Quebec.

The provincial government invites newcomers with the skills and experience to meet the province’s growing labor needs to work and live in Quebec as Permanent Residents (PR) through the Quebec Skilled Worker program and other immigration pathways.

This article provides information about Quebec’s job market, including job-generating industries, in-demand occupations for newcomers to the province, NOC codes, and median salary estimates, so you can arrive prepared to start your career in Canada.

What are the main industries in Quebec?

• Manufacturing industry: The manufacturing sector in Quebec comprises industries such as paper, transportation equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and refined petroleum and coal products.
• Mining Industry: The mining industry in Quebec creates more than 150,000 direct and indirect jobs and produces gold, silver, copper, zinc, iron, titanium and niobium.
• Agriculture and agri-food industry: Quebec’s agricultural industry is world-renowned for maple production, but also produces other staple foods and dairy products.
• Hydroelectric sector: Quebec is among the world’s largest hydroelectric producers and Hydro-Québec employs more than 20,000 people.
• Service industry: The main service industries in Quebec include financial services and insurance, tourism, digital and entertainment, transportation, computer services and consultancy, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Which cities have the most jobs in Quebec?

• Montreal: As the largest city in Quebec, Montreal has a thriving job market. The city offers employment opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including aerospace, electronic goods, software engineering, telecommunications, tourism, textile manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
• Quebec City: Quebec City offers avenues for employment in healthcare, retail and public administration.
• Gatineau: Gatineau, or ‘Ottawa-Gatineau’ as it is commonly called, is on the Ontario-Quebec border. The city offers significant employment opportunities in the federal government, service sector, and construction. It is also gaining a reputation as a startup hub.
• Sherbrooke: Traditionally known for its agriculture and forestry-related industries, including dairy, timber and rubber, Sherbrooke is now also home to a growing financial and technology sector.

What jobs are in demand in Quebec?

Updated in August 2026. The occupations and NOC codes below are reference points, not a permanent shortage list. Salary estimates become outdated quickly, so compare current wages and requirements using the Government of Canada Job Bank before making a career decision.

Service sector jobs in Quebec:

• Finance managers (NOC 10010, formerly 0111): Finance managers earn an average income of $46 CAD per hour in Quebec. You will need a degree in management or finance to qualify for these jobs.
• Human resources (HR) managers and other HR professionals (NOC 10011, 11200, formerly 0112, 1121): HR professionals earn an average salary of $30 CAD to $46 per hour, depending on their seniority.
• Financial and Real Estate Managers (NOC 10020 and 10021, formerly 0121, 0122): These in-demand occupations pay between $38 CAD and $43 CAD per hour.
• Advertising, marketing and public relations managers (NOC 10022, formerly 0124): Managers in marketing fields earn an average hourly wage of $41 CAD.
• Financial Auditors, Accountants, Analysts, Planners and Consultants (NOC 11100, 11101, 11102, 11109, formerly 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114): Other roles in demand in Financial Payment between $31 and $38 CAD per hour.
• Professional Occupations in Business Management Consulting (NOC 11201, formerly 1122): Business consultants earn a median income of $36 CAD per hour in Quebec.
• Executive Assistants (NOC 12100, formerly 1222): As an Executive Assistant, you can earn an average hourly income of $32 CAD.
• Accounting Technicians and Accountants, Insurance and Underwriters (NOC 12200, 12201, 12202 and formerly 1311, 1312, 1313): For insurance and accounting roles, the average hourly wage is between $25 CAD and $35. You will need a degree or diploma in accounting or finance to qualify for these in-demand jobs.
• Architects and Land Use Planners (NOC 21200, 21202, 21203, formerly 2151, 2153, 2154): Architects in Quebec make an average hourly income of $35.58 CAD and require a provincial license to work.
• University professors and postgraduate professors (NOC 41200 and 41201, formerly 4011, 4012): Teacher salaries vary depending on the level at which they are teaching, with university professors being the highest paid at $55 CAD per hour. If you want to work as a teacher in Quebec, you will need a provincial teaching license.
• University and school teachers at all levels (NOC 41210, 41220 and 41221, formerly 4021, 4031, 4032): School teachers earn an average hourly income of $38 CAD.

Tech jobs in Quebec

• IT Systems Managers (NOC 20012, formerly 0213): IT Manager roles are among the highest paying jobs that are in demand in Quebec, paying an average hourly wage of $55.29 CAD.
• Engineers, including computer engineers (NOC 21300, 21301, 21310, 21311, 21320, 21321, 21322, 21330, 21331, 21332, 21390, formerly 2131 to 2134 and 2141 to 2147): Engineers, depending on their specialty, make an average hourly wage between $38 CAD and $47 and
• Computer analysts and consultants, database analysts, software engineers and designers, computer programmers and interactive media developers, and web designers and developers (NOC 21211, 21220, 21221, 21222, 21223, 21233, 21231, 21230, 21232, 21234, formerly 2171 to 2175): The average salary for other tech roles can be researched on sites like Glassdoor.ca

Healthcare jobs in Quebec

• Healthcare Managers (NOC 30010, formerly 0311): Healthcare Managers typically require a management degree and earn a median hourly income of $43.27 CAD.
• Medical Administrative Assistants (NOC 13112, formerly 1243): These in-demand jobs pay between $16 CAD and $29 CAD per hour.
• **Chemists or Pharmacists (NOC 31120, formerly 3131): ** Pharmacists earn an average annual salary of $113,387 CAD.
• Specialist doctors, general practitioners, family doctors, dentists, veterinarians (NOC 31100, 31101, 31102, 31103 and 31111, formerly 3111, 3112, 3113, 3114): Newly arrived doctors may need to take an exam and register with the province to practice. Veterinarians make an average income of $86,163 CAD per year.
• Physical therapists, occupational therapists (NOC 31202, 32109, 31203, formerly 3142, 3143): These professionals earn between $33 CAD and $38 CAD per hour.
• Medical laboratory technologists, technicians and assistants (NOC 32120, 31303, 33101, formerly 3211, 3212): Laboratory technicians earn around $28 CAD per hour in Quebec.
• Registered Nurses and Nursing Supervisors (NOC 31300 and 31301, formerly 3012, 3011): Senior Nurses earn an average income between $34 and $42 CAD per hour and require a provincial nursing license.

Industry jobs in Quebec

Most sought after jobs in Quebec for newcomers - Source: Image Bank

• Manufacturing Managers (NOC 90010, formerly 0911): Management-level jobs in manufacturing pay an average hourly wage of $42.50 CAD in Quebec.
• Machinists and Machining and Tooling Inspectors (NOC 72100, formerly 7231): The average salary for these jobs is around $22 CAD per hour.
• Metal workers, steelworkers, welders, machine operators, carpenters (NOC 72102, 72105, 72106, 72310, formerly 7233, 7236, 7237, 7271): For these in-demand manufacturing occupations, average hourly pay ranges between $23 CAD and $39 CAD.
• Mechanics, supervisors, equipment operators and mechanics (NOC 72020, 72021, 72022, 72401, formerly 7301, 7302, 7303, 7312): These roles pay between $24 CAD and $35 CAD per hour.
• Supervisors in the oil, gas, chemicals, plastics, food and beverage, and forest products processing industries (NOC 92011, 92012, 92013, 92014, formerly 9212, 9213, 9214, 9215): These occupations typically have an average hourly wage between $17.50 CAD and $26 CAD.

What is the minimum wage in Quebec?

Quebec’s general minimum wage is adjusted every May 1st. The rate effective May 1, 2026 is $16.60 CAD per hour (was $16.10 until April). For tipped workers, the minimum is $13.30 CAD per hour.

For comparison, in 2022 the minimum was $14.25, that is, it rose by around 16% in four years. Still, as I show in another post, living on just the bare minimum in Montreal is still mathematically very tight.

Read also: “How much does it cost to live in Canada in 2026?”

What is the unemployment rate in Quebec?

Quebec’s unemployment rate has historically been below the Canadian average, and reached historic lows of around 3.8% in 2022. As this number changes every month, the most useful thing is to consult the updated series directly at Institut de la statistique du Québec or Statistics Canada before making any decision based on it.

What are my chances of working in Quebec speaking only English?

Depending on the industry sector and the city where you are going to settle, I would say they are very promising, but keep in mind that you should add French as you adapt to life here, even if just for communication at a basic level. Sectors such as IT, especially in Montreal, have many vacancies open for professionals with little or no proficiency in French. It all depends on the market needs and your level of experience.

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How do I move to Quebec?

Unlike other provinces and territories in Canada, Quebec selects its own immigrants based on the province’s labor market needs and the likelihood of newcomers adapting to life in Quebec.

In addition to applying to the federal program Express Entry, you can also apply specifically to settle in Quebec through the Provincial Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSW). However, most streams under the QSW program require proficiency in French.

If you plan to live in Quebec temporarily, you can also apply for a work permit or study permit.

How to live in the province of Quebec as a temporary worker?

It is possible to receive a job offer while still in Brazil, which makes your first days here much easier, as you will not have to worry about paying for the costs of maintaining your reserves until you have found a job.

How to live in the province of Quebec as an international student?

This was the path I chose to come, but I confess that I only chose it because I wanted an immigration process with more feasible prospects of permanent residence in Canada, as at the time there were ways to achieve this just by studying in Quebec.

Another factor was age, since he was arriving at 43 years old, a range outside federal programs such as Express Entry. Keep in mind that this path is not cheap and you want a level of strategic planning, especially now in a time of galloping inflation that we are experiencing in Canada.

The program I saw studies called PEQ has seen its best days, but I wouldn’t rule out the option if Quebec attracts you. I will talk in detail about these processes soon.

Important Tip! Any education or work and or study experience you gain in the province will be added to your score if you wish to apply for permanent residence plus afternoon.

Want to know more about living in Quebec?

Check out our province-specific resources for more information:

• Quebec for newly arrived Brazilians: Tips on local culture
• How does the school system work in Quebec?
• Journées Québec Brasil: how the 2023 recruitment edition worked

Well, that’s what I had to say today. Subscribe to newsletter to receive weekly updates on how to prepare for this adventure we call immigration into French Canadian lands.

See you in the next post! ;)