J.D. Irving Ltd. is looking to hire 727 people full-time on P.E.I. over the next three years, according to the company’s job forecast released on Thursday.
In addition to the full-time hires, J.D.I. is also looking to hire 60 students on the Island over that time.
Mary Keith, vice-president of communications with J.D.I., said about 490 jobs would be at Cavendish Farms to accommodate retirements and normal turnover.
About 300 of the jobs would be at the Kent Building Supplies stores.
Shipping, operations and logistics as well as retail sales are the main occupations the company is looking fill on P.E.I.
“From and Island perspective, we truly value the partnerships that we have with education institutions that are that great source of the next generation of folks who are going to work in the operations,” said Keith. “We work closely with Holland College as well as UPEI ... Our recruiting folks are going out and around on various campuses over the next couple of months.”
The P.E.I. jobs are part of the company’s overall plans to hire 7,500 people full-time and another 2,500 students in Canada and the U.S.
Of those jobs, 89 per cent are in Atlantic Canada.
In the U.S., J.D.I. is planning to hire 322 people full-time and 120 students.
Breakdown of J.D.I.’s hiring plans over the next three years
Full-time students
N.B. 3,200 1,619
N.S. 2,221 413
P.E.I. 727 60
Nfld. 494 227
Ont. 388 99
Que. 133 0
B.C. 7 6
Alta. 3 4
U.S. 322 120
