Help Wanted: McDonald's® Canada Looks to Hire Over 6,000 People Across the Country on National Hiring Day

World's leading foodservice company offers nearly 750 jobs in Alberta

EDMONTON, April 9, 2014 /CNW/ - McDonald's Canada and its franchisees are set to hire over 6,000 people on National Hiring Day on April 10. As one of the country's largest employers of young people, the company and its franchisees are aiming to hire the largest number of young people they have ever attempted to hire in one day in Canada as part of the event. In Alberta specifically, the youth unemployment rate* is nearly double the provincial average. To counteract this, McDonald's Canada is aiming to hire nearly 750 people in the province, including more than 210 in Edmonton and over 90 in Calgary, this Thursday.

National Hiring Day is a one-day hiring event held at participating McDonald's restaurants from coast-to-coast.  Job-seekers can apply in-person and be interviewed on-the-spot for one of more than 6,100 available positions (6,000 crew and 150 managers).  Candidates can also apply online at McDonalds.ca/Careers.

"Behind McDonald's world-famous menu and business success are our talented people," said Usman Jutt, Edmonton Owner/Operator, McDonald's Canada. "Our hands-on business experience, best-in-class training and development opportunities help equip employees with the skills to build a career, whether in the crew room or down the road, in the boardroom."

With almost 75 per cent of its employees in Canada aged between 15 and 24, McDonald's is often a young person's first introduction to the working world and their first step to building a career within or outside the company. Over half of franchisees and nearly 90 per cent of restaurant managers started as crew. More than 65 per cent of corporate top management, including John Betts, McDonald's Canada's current President and CEO, got their start behind the counter as crew members.

"It's a point of pride to offer young people their first job and to help set them on a path to success," added Deraaf. "Flexibility, fun, friends and future opportunities are just a few of the reasons our people choose McDonald's as their employer of choice, be it for a year or a career."

McDonald's Canada has consistently ranked among Canada's 50 Best Employers and placed 10^th in 2014. McDonald's Canada and its franchisees offer competitive wages, flexible work schedules and scholarship programs. The company and its franchisees have awarded more than $1.5 million in the past five years in scholarships.

Recently, McDonald's Canada announced a partnership with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), the first of its kind in Canada, to provide advanced placement or course credit that can be applied to a BCIT School of Business diploma or degree based on training received at McDonald's. McDonald's students enrolled in a diploma and then degree program can earn up to 16 course credits, saving approximately $8,000. The program is available to employees in British Columbia, as well as out-of-province employees enrolled in BCIT's distance education program.  McDonald's Canada is currently exploring similar opportunities with other post-secondary institutions across the country.

About McDonald's Canada

McDonald's is the leading foodservice company in the world. McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and its franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants and employ more than 85,000 employees coast-to-coast.  Approximately 80 per cent of McDonald's Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. For more information about McDonald's Canada, visit www.mcdonalds.ca or follow us on Twitter (@McD_Canada) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonaldscanada) for updates on our business, promotions and menu items.

*Source: Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada as of March 2014 (released April 4, 2014): The National unemployment rate as of March 2014 is 6.9%. Among youths aged 15 to 24, unemployment was 13.6%. The full report is available here. Among youths in Alberta aged 15 to 24, unemployment was 8.3% as of February 2014. The full report is available here.

SOURCE: McDonald's Canada

For more information or interview requests with Jessica Deraaf, please contact: McDonald's Media Relations, 1-877-786-3342