Québec City, November 26, 2024 – The Québec Mining Association (QMA) has released its latest survey of the economic benefits generated by the mining industry in Québec. It covers the year 2022, using the most recent and complete data available. Between 2014 and 2022, the contribution made by the mining industry to Québec’s GDP jumped by 56.8% to a total of over $12 billion. In a single year, 2022, the industry invested $1.3 billion. The survey highlights the crucial and even vital contribution made by the mining industry in several administrative regions.
An increasing number of jobs
The mining industry supports over 15,500 direct jobs, with an average annual wage of almost $118,000, more than double the median employment income in Québec in 2022. The number of women working in the industry has increased by 57% in eight years, from 1,398 to 2,201 while the total number of workers from Indigenous communities has reached 456, an increase of 77% since 2014. Overall, the mining industry generates direct, indirect and induced employment totalling over 51,000 person-years in Québec.
A significant contribution to government revenue
The Québec government collected $1.9 billion in revenue in 2022 thanks to mining, and the federal government $735 million. Both figures exclude corporate income tax. For Québec, $562 million came from mining taxes, which have increased by 364% since 2014.
An impressive business ecosystem
A total of 3,847 businesses, including several SMEs, with a place of business in Québec are mining industry suppliers. This supplier network extends to all regions of Québec. It is especially important in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, but is also prominent in several other areas, including the Montréal, Montérégie, Capitale-Nationale, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord regions.
Key (but sometimes overlooked) mining regions – jobs and suppliers
- The Abitibi-Témiscamingue region continues to lead as the mining region with the most jobs (15,313 person-years of direct, indirect and induced employment) and suppliers (1,149).
- Montréal surprisingly ranks second in terms of jobs (9,729 person-years of direct, indirect and induced employment) and suppliers (657).
- The Montérégie region ranks third in terms of jobs (6,271 person-years of direct, indirect and induced employment) and suppliers (322).
Top 3 – Mining industry contribution to regional GDP
- Côte-Nord: 35.4%
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue: 29.4%
- Nord-du-Québec: 18.2%
Press releases by mining region
Quote
“All indicators in our survey show that since 2014 the mining industry has made a growing contribution to employment, the economy and government revenue in Québec. In just one year, 2022, the industry paid $562 million to the Québec government in the form of mining taxes. The number of regions that benefit from mining comes as a surprise to many people. The survey shows that the mining industry is diversifying, investing and taking its place at the heart of several regional economies.”
Josée Méthot, the Québec Mining Association president and CEO
To view the survey highlights, click here.
To view the full survey, click here.
About the Québec Mining Association
The Québec Mining Association (QMA) was founded in 1936 and speaks proactively for mining companies involved in exploration, extraction and processing, mining contractors and junior mining companies, along with suppliers, institutions, non-profit organizations and other mining sector partners. It is proud of the 51,334 jobs and $12 billion it contributes to Québec’s GDP. The QMA’s mission is to promote, support and proactively develop a responsible, committed and innovative mining industry in Québec.