A few longstanding stories that offer broad insights into how our economy and province are working came together this week on the convocation stage at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
These stories that came together relate to population growth, immigration, demographics and health care.
Saskatchewan is in the midst of one of its biggest ever population growth spurts these days. Among them is a cohort of health care workers who were actively recruited abroad to help fill the talent gap in our system as our population ages as well as grows.
Recruits attracted to the province complete educational requirements once they arrive and this week more than 120 of them from the Philippines alone graduated from SaskPoly’s nursing school. They are now headed into jobs in hospital wards and health facilities across the province.
That brings us to another story. Saskatchewan, along with Manitoba, are now among the primary destinations for Filipinos headed overseas in search of work. And it was never more clearly evident than this week as 98 per cent of this year’s SaskPoly grads already have jobs with 94 per cent of them in Saskatchewan.
