November 9, 2016, MONCTON (GNB) – The provincial government aims to capitalize on the existing strengths of the contact centre sector to help create new, higher-skill, higher-paying jobs as the sector evolves into business service centres.
“New Brunswick already has a strong reputation for excellence in the contact centre sector,” said Economic Development Minister Francine Landry, who is also minister responsible for Opportunities NB. “Continued evolution in this sector has been identified as an opportunity in the New Brunswick Economic Growth Plan for career opportunities for New Brunswickers.”
“We are focused on continuing to develop the skilled workforce that companies are looking for. Those people will be critical to the evolution and growth of this sector,” said Opportunities NB CEO Stephen Lund at the Contact Atlantic 2016 conference in Moncton. “One of the goals will be to increase the number of business service centres in stable sectors such as banking, finance, information technology and research. Skilled workers will be needed for jobs such as system management specialists, technical services professionals and customer centre representatives.”
One out of every 20 workers (18,000) is employed in the sector at almost 90 centres throughout the province. The contact centres in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton account for 85 per cent of this employment but centres also exist in Miramichi, Bathurst, Campbellton and Edmundston as well as in many rural communities. The sector contributes more than $1 billion annually to the province’s GDP.
Opportunities NB is a Crown corporation that seeks to attract and support opportunities to grow the economy and create jobs. It provides support services for businesses across the province.
MEDIA CONTACT(S):
Mary-Anne Hurley-Corbyn, communications, Opportunities NB, 506-476-7596.