Maple News reports that Saskatchewan has unveiled a new immigration initiative aimed at addressing critical labour shortages across key sectors of its economy.
The Hard-To-Fill Skills Pilot, announced on November 25, is part of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Scheduled to launch in December 2021, the pilot enables Saskatchewan employers to recruit international workers for in-demand, lower-skilled positions where local labour is insufficient. These roles may require minimal experience or provide on-the-job training.
Key industries expected to benefit from the program include healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, ag-tech, construction, hospitality, and retail—sectors currently facing acute staffing gaps as economic activity rebounds post-pandemic. The province emphasizes that this program was created by Saskatchewan, for Saskatchewan, as part of its broader strategy to gain greater autonomy over provincial immigration decisions.
“This new Hard-To-Fill Skills Pilot—developed in Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan—is progress on our autonomy discussions with the federal government and is going to help provide employers with greater access to international options to recruit workers,” said Minister of Immigration and Career Training Jeremy Harrison. He added that the program complements ongoing investments in training and upskilling the domestic workforce.
Employers participating in the new pilot must demonstrate that they have made substantial efforts to recruit within Canada before turning to international hiring. They are also required to show a clear benefit to their business and provide adequate settlement support for newcomers.
To be eligible under the program, candidates must receive a full-time, permanent job offer from a registered Saskatchewan employer in a designated occupation. Other requirements include meeting minimum Canadian language proficiency levels, as well as relevant educational and work experience criteria—which currently include at least one year of experience in the same occupation or six months of experience working in Saskatchewan.
Though the provincial government has yet to release the comprehensive list of eligible occupations or the exact language and educational thresholds, industry leaders have already welcomed the announcement. “This is very positive news for businesses in the hospitality industry,” said Jim Bence, President and CEO of Hospitality Saskatchewan. “This program is a creative and much-needed solution to solve persistent labour shortages.”
The rollout of this pilot comes as Saskatchewan positions itself for strong economic growth post-COVID-19, fueled by new infrastructure and industrial projects.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report further announcements related to the program, including full eligibility criteria as they become available.