Greater Moncton Businesses Say Filling Labour Needs Is Biggest Challenge
MONCTON – For businesses in Greater Moncton, the difficulty in finding the right people to fill jobs is what hinders growth the most, according to a Chamber of Commerce of Greater Moncton (GMCC) survey of its members.
Around 35 percent of the 206 respondents identified that as their biggest challenge to growth.
GMCC members have a very positive view of the Greater Moncton Immigration Strategy launched last fall. Nearly 80 percent cited the regional strategy as “very positive” or “positive.” About 40 percent of respondents also said they hired a recent newcomer in the past year.
Despite the labour challenges, business owners remain optimistic about Greater Moncton’s economy heading into 2020. Over 84 percent of respondents see the economic conditions of Greater Moncton as “positive” or “very positive.”
“It’s becoming more evident that Greater Moncton is the economic engine of the province,” GMCC CEO John Wishart said in a press release.
“Business people in our region have confidence in what is happening here, they believe in their ability to grow their business, but also to continue this wave of success that propels the region and the province.”
However, the survey conducted between November 25 and December 6 also found that over 45 percent of those surveyed said security and homelessness should be the biggest priority at the municipal level in Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe.
In addition, respondents were less optimistic about the provincial outlook for this year. Nearly 50 percent rated New Brunswick’s economic condition as “neutral,” more than 25 percent rated it as “positive” and 20 percent judged it “negative.”
The respondents believe the provincial government’s top priority in 2020 should be investing in healthcare and education (24 percent), growing the population and attract more immigrants (16 percent), and building the labour force (12 percent).