According to an RBC Report released last week, we are failing to put immigrant skills to work.
We lead the G7 in attracting newcomers, with immigration driving 90% of our population growth. Over one-third have advanced degrees with many holding majors in STEM-related fields like science, technology, engineering and math. However, they are more likely to work in jobs requiring far less education and training.
The dentist driving a taxi. The engineer working as a janitor. We see these examples playing out across our city.
Better utilization of immigrant skills will be key to our economic prosperity. Proper integration of their skills will help address worker shortages, help our SME community grow faster, and ultimately generate economic activity in every sector.
The Chamber strongly supports the Province of Saskatchewan’s efforts to move aggressively on this challenge:
The keys to unlocking Saskatoon’s economic potential include our growing Indigenous workforce and qualified newcomers ready to fill skilled and professional jobs.