Canadian mining sector poised to hire

The Globe and Mail reports that Canada’s mining sector is set for a hiring spree in the coming quarter, making it the most upbeat sector in the country as other employers remain cautious. Across all industries, one in five employers expect to boost their payrolls in the April-to-June period, according to a Manpower Inc. survey released Tuesday.

According to The Globe, almost three-quarters, or 73 per cent, expect no change in staffing levels while 5 per cent are planning cutbacks – responses that are little changed from the prior quarter.

It’s a different story for mining, where second-quarter hiring intentions are by far the strongest, and where the outlook also jumped the most in the quarter. Among miners, which include energy and mineral extraction firms, 29 per cent of respondents plan to add staff. Regionally, hiring is most upbeat in the West.

“The national mood is cautiously optimistic,” said Catherine Lyons-Bozzo, Manpower’s national account executive. In mining however, “it’s all systems go.”