Employers in Saskatchewan are commending their government’s latest strategies to ease the pressure caused by high worker shortages.
This month the government of Saskatchewan announced that it would raise the number of training and apprenticeship positions in the province, as well as having successfully negotiated a rise in their provincial nominee program quota, up to 4,450.
The provincial nominee program allows provincial governments to fast-track immigration applications for workers whose skills are most needed. Businesses across the country have long been praising the program, particularly those who have been facing labour shortages in provinces like Saskatchewan.
“The number one issue facing every business owner in this province is the skills shortage,” said the Canadian Federation of Independent Business representative Marilyn Braun-Pollon. “Half of our members are turning away business because they can’t find labour. This is a critical issue for small business owners.”
However, Braun-Pollon cautions that these measures may not be enough and hopes the government will eventually be able to negotiate 6,000 provincial nominee applications each year.
Other local stakeholders noted that more should to be done to attract workers to Saskatchewan over other provinces like Alberta, which has a lower tax rate. Lower taxes mean more affordable living, which is a concern to anyone who is looking to migrate for work.
Still, however, Saskatchewan is one of the fastest growing provinces in Canada, recently reporting record population growths. The new initiatives should help ease some of the pressures being faced by employers who are trying to keep up with demand.
Source: Regina Leader-Post
