The labour market in Saskatchewan just got tighter — a lot tighter.
A recent monthly report on jobs issued by Statistics Canada contains a strong signal to employers that they will be finding it much harder to secure workers.
All the usual numbers were there: the unemployment rate fell to an all-time low, the number of people with a job has never been higher and so on. But the real flashing sign in this report is that 6,000 people left the workforce. That’s roughly the number of people holding jobs in a city the size of Estevan.
We don’t exactly know the reasons for their departure, but it is most likely retirement followed by out-migration. That is 6,000 fewer people in the pool that supply employers.
We are already hearing about fast food outlets being unable to offer both drive-through and in-person service because they don’t have the people required to deliver full service.
The conversation we’re having about the relationship between Regina and the federal government needs to be expanded immediately on the topic of immigration. Saskatchewan needs another million people.
