Lack of job opportunities driving people out of Saskatchewan

Recent statistics show that more people are leaving Saskatchewan to look for better job opportunities in our neighboring provinces out west.

“The Sask. Party has not improved the job market and has in fact cut nearly $3 million for job training programs in this year’s budget and we’re losing valuable workers because of it,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat. “We had the lowest GDP growth outside of Atlantic Canada for 2017. In April, Saskatchewan had 1,800 fewer jobs compared to the same time last year. These numbers don’t lie. The Sask. Party can’t ignore the writing on the wall.”

The Saskatchewan Trends Monitor shows that the number of people coming into Saskatchewan from other provinces is down 8 per cent compared to the same time last year, and the number of people leaving Saskatchewan for other provinces is up 16 per cent compared to the same time last year. The number of international immigrants coming to Saskatchewan is also down 5 per cent compared to the same time last year.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2015/16, Saskatchewan tied with Manitoba for the lowest net interprovincial migratory rates among the provinces. Saskatchewan had a net loss of 3.7 people per 1,000 population. In comparison, B.C. had a net gain of 5.6 people per 1,000 population.

Last year was the first year Saskatchewan did not bring in enough newcomers to balance out the exodus to other provinces. In 2017, 7,377 international immigrants came to Saskatchewan, but 9,397 Saskatchewan residents moved to other provinces.

“The Sask. Party’s mismanagement of our economy has led to this mass exodus,” said Mowat. “Instead of providing more job training opportunities, they are constricting what is already in place. Instead of increasing the minimum wage, they are keeping us in last place. The Sask. Party should change their course of action and start investing in our economy.”

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