New Brunswick’s shortage of forestry workers has felt some relief after 48 newcomers have settled in Saint-Quentin.
Because there aren’t enough young people to replace an aging workforce and retiring workers, the forestry industry has turned to immigration to compensate. Independent companies such as Groupe Savoie and Forest NB are sponsoring newcomers from Ukraine, Latvia, Finland, Brazil, and other countries who want to live in a small town and work in the forestry industry.
In an interview with MSN News, Nathalie Savoie of Groupe Savoie says that recruitment from the Ukraine has been the most successful so far, having hired 16 families from the country.
For the new arrivals, language and housing are challenges, but volunteer efforts have been made to teach French and a new investor will build apartments in the face of a housing crisis.