$4M plan aims to address job vacancies in Saskatchewan

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It’s been a struggle for many employers in Saskatchewan to find workers as the province navigates labour market shortages — a challenge that Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison says will be significant.

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Some of the industries the province has identified as facing recruitment challenges include hospitality, retail, health, childcare and agriculture.

“These are good challenges to have, but that being said they are still challenges,” Harrison said in an interview on Tuesday, adding that Saskatchewan has one of the lowest unemployment rates.

Angie Stevenson, a director of a childcare centre in St. Brieux and chairperson of the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association, sees these issues every day.

“It’s tough right now,” Stevenson said on Tuesday. “It’s not just the early childhood education sector; it’s many industries. There is just not enough employees to go around for all the job openings in the province.”

The Saskatchewan government is hoping to address these job vacancies through a new $4 million program.

Announced Tuesday, the program provides funding to employers to hire job seekers who are facing barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment. It’s expected the project will connect up to 465 job seekers with employers.

Companies who participate will receive up to $6,000 per participant.

As well, 100 per cent of the minimum hourly wage will be covered in the first month, 80 per cent covered in the second month and 60 per cent covered in the third and fourth months.

Participants who are eligible must be working with SaskJobs Career Services or an approved service provider.

The one-time program will be in place over the next few months and respond to the labour market, Harrison said.

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“We’re going to see what the uptake is going to be and I do expect there to be significant uptake,” Harrison said. “We’ve seen better labour market outcomes when we have employees, employers and government working in the same space — everyone with a stake in a successful outcome.”

Jim Bence, the president and CEO of Hospitality Saskatchewan, thinks the program will help the industry get a “leg up.”

The hospitality sector has been struggling to find and retain workers throughout the pandemic. Many left the profession or were let go as business revenues fell and pandemic pressures mounted.

Bence said employers have tried multiple strategies to attract employers, including wage increases.

“The available labour pool is quite shallow as there has been instability in the industry as people look elsewhere for employment,” Bence said, adding that the situation has since stabilized in Saskatchewan.

“There are tremendous demands. On the labour front, getting all the front-line staff mobilized in Saskatchewan, that’s mission critical piece No. 1.”

In the childcare sector, Stevenson said some people left because of burnout over the pandemic. The industry also doesn’t pay as well compared to other types of work, she added.

“Some strides are being made, where there is better renumeration tied to the federal childcare agreement,” she said. “Those steps have begun to be taken, but more work needs to be done.”

When asked if increasing the minimum wage would attract job seekers, Harrison said the province has a process for determining minimum wage levels and is comfortable with the current plan going forward.

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He added there have been programs during the pandemic that aim to ensure people are finding work.

“Where we have really seen successful labour market outcomes is around the job training front and up-skilling,” he said.

In health care, Saskatchewan Union of Nurses president Tracy Zambory has long stressed the industry is going through a staffing crisis.

While the province has acknowledged these challenges, Zambory has called on the province to “dig into” what’s needed.

“Recruitment and retention, this is vital,” Zambory said in an interview last week, adding the new grads need to gain more experience.

Stevenson said there needs to be better recognition for the childcare industry so people understand it’s a profession.

She said better compensation would also be helpful, as well as giving early childhood educators professional development and planning days.

As for the new $4 million employment initiative, Stevenson said any bit helps.

“Anything like that is super helpful if it can help us recruit more people into the profession,” she said.

jsimes@postmedia.com 

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