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J.D. Irving says it plans to fill 7,900 positions across Canada and in the United States over the next three years. Most of the jobs – almost 90 per cent – will be in Atlantic Canada, according to the company.

The hiring spree is because of retirements, regular turnover within its workforce, and anticipated growth in Irving’s operations for the future.

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Any new employment will be welcome for Canadians.

Irving has a wide variety of operations and now employs around 15,000. Some of the new jobs will be for millwrights, welders, electricians, mechanics, machine operators and labourers, as well as accounting, administration and human resources professional, according to media reports.

The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy work coming to the company will result in new jobs but it is unclear how many of the 7,900 will be the result of that initiative.

Irving has started work on the RCN’s Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and will have the contract in the future to build the Canadian Surface Combatant fleet. But the CSC is still far off into the future.

An Irving spokeswoman said 250 people were hired last year for the firm’s shipyard and 325 former employees were recalled for work. Another 150 jobs are expected to be added this year for shipyard work.