J. D. Irving Limited is looking to hire 594 people to fill job vacancies on the Island over the next three years due to anticipated retirements, business growth and turnover.
Mary Keith, vice-president of communications, said 347 jobs would be at Cavendish Farms while the remaining would mainly be at Kent Building Supplies.
At Cavendish Farms, the hiring would be mainly in operations at the plant. Other positions expected to be hired include engineering, finance, business services, shipping, supply, logistics and information technology.
The Kent Building Supplies positions are mainly in retail sales and would involve student and co-op positions, said Keith.
Overall, the company says 10,469 jobs are anticipated in Canada and the U.S. The number of positions in Canada is 9,433, including 8,821 in Atlantic Canada. Of the 600 skilled trade positions expected, 83 per cent are in Atlantic Canada.
The 2018-2020 forecast includes hiring 2,558 students.
Keith added that 1,700 of the jobs are the result of new growth. Of those, 1,510 are in Canada. Some of the positions related to growth include a new tissue plant in Georgia and a new Kent Building Supplies store in Dartmouth Crossing.
The forecasted hires by country and province are:
- Canada - 9,400
- U.S. - 1,036
- New Brunswick - 5,101
- Nova Scotia - 2,167
- Newfoundland and Labrador - 959
- Prince Edward Island - 594
- Ontario - 418
- Quebec - 142
- Alberta - 49
- British Columbia - 3
