Local Employment Potential Information

Table on the employment potential for Labourers in Rubber and Plastic Products Manufacturing in Annapolis Valley Region as well as in the rest of the Nova Scotia.

Location	Employment Potential	Release Date
Annapolis Valley Region		2011-10-11

Currently the chances of qualified Labourers in Rubber and Plastic Products Manufacturing finding employment are considered to be good in the local area. The main reason why the employment potential is Good in the local area is that the area's major employer, Michelin, continues to hire as a result of growth, an aging workforce nearing retirement in the short term and very minimal turnover.

After successfully weathering the storm of the recent global economic crisis which saw the North American tire market decline significantly in 2009, Michelin's Waterville tire plant production is now back in full swing and the plant has recently added over 90 jobs in 2010 while also avoiding approximately 95 layoffs during the downturn utilizing the Federal Work-Sharing Program. This program ran from April 2009 to April 2010 with 500 employees working reduced hours with the remainder of their hours covered by Employment Insurance.

Michelin's latest major expansion ($92 million) back in 2006 made the Waterville plant the second largest Michelin plant in the world.

Also, Michelin hires significant numbers of summer students each year at the Waterville plant (typically 90-120) though the past few years have seen that number reduced down to approximately 60.

Michelin has also been experiencing some growing human resource difficulties in the past several years and as a result have expanded the search into community college systems in other Atlantic provinces at times to attract the necessary personnel.

An increase in the number of applicants from western Canada and southern Ontario has also been noted. It has also been mentioned that the current volume of applicants in response to advertised job openings is much less than it used to be. This is, in part, the result of Michelin's new pay scale (as of May 1, 2007) which meant that all new hires after that date were now making $3 less per hour. Current rates are $15.50 for the probationary period of 6 months, then $16.25 after that to a maximum of $17.75. The reduction in rate also includes flex employees, who no longer receive the regular full-time rate if they were hired after that date.

Only a small percentage of local applicants are able to make it through the job interview process and have been found to be lacking particularly in math and behavioural interview areas. As a continued response to this, the Nova Scotia Community College (Kingstec Campus) continue to partner with Michelin to put on a series of 1-day workshops designed to help participants prepare for the Michelin hiring process (standardized across the company). These have been ongoing on a regular basis since the fall of 2006 at a cost to the client of $30. Completion of this course has resulted in a 50% increase in the success rate of applicants.

Technicians are expected to come in with at least one of the following: electrical, mechanical or electronics.

In addition to employment opportunities locally, opportunities may exist in other areas of the province or in other regions of the country. People who are able to work elsewhere may want to research opportunities for this occupation in other labour markets within Nova Scotia and across the country. The future employment outlook for Labourers in Rubber and Plastic Products Manufacturing in Nova Scotia is expected to be fair over the next 5 years.

Additional information on Labourers in Rubber and Plastic Products Manufacturing (opportunities in other areas, training, who hires, current job openings, statistics and other information), is available on other parts of this web site.

Local Labour Market News

Week of Jun 03 – Jun 07, 2013

• A virus that has affected strawberries in the Annapolis Valley will cause more than 100 seasonal job losses

Week of Apr 01 – Apr 05, 2013

• Eat Barbecue Diner has hired three new employees since it was opened to replace the Cocoa Pesto Bistro in Windsor in February 2013
• The Trail Shop, an outdoor equipment business, will close out its Wolfville location at the end of the month

Week of Mar 25 – Mar 29, 2013

• A sea cadet training contract in the Cornwallis Park will result in employment for about 180 workers for 10 weeks over each of the next there summers
• Bell Aliant will continue to expand and connect more customers to its fibre-optic technology throughout Nova Scotia, with work planned for the Annapolis Valley in 2013

Week of Feb 11 – Feb 15, 2013

• Berwick experienced a busy 2012 construction season in the downtown core, with the building of a new drugstore, property upgrades, and other commercial renovations