Montreal — CargoM, the Logistics and Transportation Metropolitan Cluster of Montreal, has released the updated results of the 2013-2014 study carried out by KPMG on the logistics and transportation sector in Quebec and, more specifically, Greater Montreal.
Consolidating the data then available on the various transportation segments of road, marine, rail and air, the study made it possible to fully profile the industry, and served as the foundation for the work and projects of the fledgling cluster. Since then, the economic and social context in which the industry operates has greatly changed. Industry players are facing many challenges in a post-pandemic inflationary environment that is putting pressure on global supply chains.
The scarcity of labour and the road infrastructure maintenance are adding further pressures on our sector. Despite these challenges, the last few years have clearly proved the importance of our sector, and the upswing in job numbers confirms its resilience and vitality.
“Although the number of companies in Greater Montreal between 2012 and 2021 decreased from 6,297 to 6,089, the total number of jobs in transportation and warehousing increased by nearly 24%, from 43,700 to 54,100,” noted CargoM Executive Director Mathieu Charbonneau.
“In terms of indirect jobs, namely the role of logistics at manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, we can factor in about 75,000 additional jobs, for a total of close to 130,000 jobs in Greater Montreal. Many companies are facing a shortage of personnel, and this figure would undoubtedly be higher without the current labour shortage.
Added-value now $8.7 billion
“Another interesting fact is the importance of our sector in terms of economic benefits. In fact, the added value generated by the industry in Greater Montreal is now $8.7 billion compared to $4 billion in 2012. Through this update, CargoM now has the latest data, so that together with its partner members, it can implement effective and coherent strategies in light of the current environment.”
“Marine cargo shipping in Greater Montreal has grown substantially over the past ten years, up 19% from 2011 to hit 34 million tonnes in 2021,” commented Martin Imbleau, Chair of the CargoM Board of Directors and President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority. “The container sector in particular is enjoying strong growth, with the Port of Montreal posting a 15% increase between January 2021 and September 2022. This means that the Port is getting close to its full container handling capacity, which is why we are planning our major expansion project in Contrecœur.”
(Photo Montreal Port Authority)
