May 9, 2023 – The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the expansion of the Saskatchewan Labour Market Council to include key business leaders and leaders of Saskatchewan’s educational institutions. The Council will take a solutions-based approach to providing labour market insight and recommendations to the provincial government and Saskatchewan employers.

“Saskatchewan is currently facing an acute labour shortage which challenges both employers and job seekers. It is critical that we not only understand the issues facing the province, but that we come up with solutions to address these issues. We believe we have the right individuals and the right mix of industries on the Council to address this need,” said Prabha Ramaswamy, CEO, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

The expanded Council will focus on supporting a robust labour market, to ensure the Saskatchewan economy continues to grow and thrive. It will support Saskatchewan employers with insights and solutions developed through discussions and work with industry and government. It will also work closely with the Government of Saskatchewan, as well as representatives of key sectors, and stakeholders to identify issues, barriers, and opportunities within Saskatchewan’s labour market.

“For the second year in a row, our members have indicated through the SCC’s Annual Membership Survey, that access to skilled and experienced workers is their most pressing issue. Building labour force capacity is a critical piece for the Government of Saskatchewan to achieve its growth goals and to help Saskatchewan businesses prosper,” advised Ramaswamy.

The Council will work to:

• identify skills shortages, and labour market gaps,
• identify opportunities for talent/skill recruitment,
• identify reskilling and upskilling opportunities for post-secondary institutions,
• provide insights and recommendations on immigration and newcomer retention strategies, and
• provide insights and recommendations on Indigenous Engagement strategies.

It will develop a report to be submitted to the Government of Saskatchewan based on the Council’s findings. It expects to be presenting its report to the province in the new year.