McDonald's® Canada Sets Ambitious Target of 1,700 New Hires for West Hiring Day

Annual single-day hiring blitz on September 14 will seek 750 new hires across BC and the Yukon Territory

VANCOUVER, Sept. 12, 2016 /CNW/ - On Wednesday, September 14, McDonald's Canada and its franchisees will aim to hire 1,700 new employees across Western Canada. The ambitious target is part of their sixth West Hiring Day, and looks to reverse the troubling trend of disappearing Canadian jobs. With 750 new hires planned for British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, this is part of McDonald's ongoing commitment to providing meaningful employment opportunities to Canadians of all ages.

The recently released Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada measured a nationwide unemployment rate of 7.0 per cent, following the previous four consecutive months of job loss.* Though British Columbia's provincial rate is more optimistic, at 5.5 per cent, for many residents, finding a job is still a struggle.

"We're proud to serve and employ members of our community," says Vancouver Franchisee Andy Bates. "Whether for a young person looking for their first position or for an adult trying to break back into the job market, West Hiring Day is such a welcome occasion for so many Canadians. In particular, the newly created Guest Experience Leader positions provide our employees with relevant experience and skills that set the foundation for future success and careers. Some people call them 'soft skills'. We call them Skills For Life."

McDonald's hires year-round, but this single-day blitz is the largest one-time creation of jobs for the restaurant chain in Western Canada. Participating restaurants will seek to fill crew, manager and new Guest Experience Leader positions at participating restaurants in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories. It also comes just a few months after National Hiring Day in April, which saw McDonald's hire more than 8,900 new employees across the country.

West Hiring Day invites job-seekers to apply in-restaurant and learn more about local restaurant opportunities. Applicants visiting the restaurant that day will have the benefit of a possible on-the-spot interview by a member of the restaurant management team.

Believing in today's youth
McDonald's hires employees of all ages, but of the nearly 90,000 Canadian employees, almost 65 per cent are young people between the ages of 15 and 24. McDonald's is committed to providing competitive wages, comprehensive benefits and flexible schedules that can help youth achieve a work-life balance while setting them up for success and skills for life in their future careers.

One of the ways the company encourages both personal and professional growth among employees is through its partnership with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). The school recognizes McDonald's management training and provides advanced placement or course credit applied to a BCIT School of Business diploma or degree (bachelor of business administration (BBA)). Since December 2013, more than 40 McDonald's employees have finished their placement assessments and are either enrolling, or are eligible to enroll in the program. The program is available to employees in British Columbia, as well as out-of-province employees enrolled in BCIT's distance education program. Employees from the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, BC's Interior, Alberta and Ontario are already taking advantage.

"We are incredibly proud that our training and development program provides young Canadians with meaningful skills and experiences that set the foundation for their successful careers," says Shelly Hansen, Western Regional Vice President, McDonald's Canada. "The BCIT program is an extension of how much we value their contribution to our success."

Candidates that are looking for local restaurant career opportunities, but unable to apply in-person can go to www.McDonalds.ca/Careers to apply online.

About McDonald's Canada
In 1967, Canadians welcomed the first McDonald's restaurant to Richmond, British Columbia. Today, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited has become part of the Canadian fabric, serving close to three million guests every day.  Together with our franchisees, we proudly employ nearly 90,000 people from coast-to-coast and approximately 85 per cent of McDonald's 1,400 Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. Of the almost $1 billion we spend on food, more than 85 per cent is purchased from suppliers in Canada. For more information on McDonald's Canada visit McDonalds.ca.

* Source: Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada as of August 2016: The full report is available here.

SOURCE McDonald's Canada

Danielle Jang, McDonald's Canada, [email protected], 604-293-4849; Colleen Dunbar, Weber Shandwick, [email protected], 604-283-1361