1. Northern Economic and Labour Market Trends Report
NLMC November 9, 2016

2. Trends Report
Purpose - to provide an update of information about the economy and workforce of Northern Saskatchewan
Population, Education, Employment and Income of our region and comparisons to northern Territories
Information on Major Occupations, vacancy projections
Recommendations for Economic and Human Resource Strategy Development

3. Trends Report - Population
Percentage of youth still high, but decreasing
N SK percentage of population 15 and under decreased from 37.2% to 30 % between 1996 and 2015
Still much higher than Sask’s at 19.3%

4. Trends Report - Population
Number of Elders is growing
N SK percentage of population more than doubled from 1,128 to 2,448 between 1996 and 2015

5. Trends Report - Population
N SK one of 3 regions in Canada with over 80% Indigenous Population

6. Trends Report - Education
N SK Educational Profile resembles that of Nunavut
Lower educated residents are qualified for fewer jobs in the region and less mobile to look for work elsewhere

7. Trends Report – Employment and Income
N SK Employment Rate – 38.4%
Nunavut Employment Rate – 55.8%
N SK Median Income – $16,860
Nunavut Median Income - $28,580
N SK Employment and Income considerably lower than Nunavut despite similar educational profile

8. Trends Report – Employers and Workers
N SK Employers – Approx. 902
Nunavut Employers – Approx. 1351
N SK # Working – Approx. 9,000
Nunavut # Working – Approx. 13,000
N SK has fewer employers and # working than Nunavut despite similar population #s
(39,212 N SK; 36,500 Nunavut)

9. Trends Report – Sectors
N SK Economy on par or better than Territories in Mining, Education and Health Sectors – all others lower

10. Trends Report – Factors
Factors Affecting N SK Economy
Negatively affected by economic drain to other regions
People and businesses that work in the north and live elsewhere
Goods and services obtained from other regions
Resources taken outside region for processing
Little Recent Capital Investment in Region
Construction projects few, employment low
Reflects low price of main commodity: Uranium
Reflects low activity level in other sectors

11. Trends Report – Factors
N SK economy reflective of Economic Development efforts of last 35 years
Since discovery of high grade uranium deposits the primary focus has been on building human resource and business capacity to meet the needs of Mining sector – this has been correct and effective
However, this success enabled the slow erosion of development efforts in other sectors (low R & D and capital investment, fewer resources available)
Current Economic Development profile reflects this history with strong activity only in Mining, Education, and Health

12. Major Occupations reflect active economic sectors of Mining, Education, Health
# Working
Rank
Elementary and Secondary Teachers, College Instructors, Early Childhood Educators, Other Instructors
1215 1
Light Duty Cleaners and Janitors
590 2
Underground Miners and Drillers and Mine and Drill Labourers
445 3
Accounting Technicians, General Office Support, Reception, Data Entry, Accounting Clerks, Payroll Clerks, Library, Shipper/Receiver, Dispatcher
430 4
Retail Sales
410 5
Teacher Assistants
260 6
Heavy Equipment Operators
220 7
Construction Trades Helpers and Labourers, Public Works Labourers
210 8
Registered Nurses
205 9
Process Operators, Power Engineers, Processing Labourers
200 10

13. Major Occupations (Similar Skill Sets) Currently Employed
Demand Projection based on Vacancy Rate (2.4%) and Major Projects (Gunnar, Tazi Twe)
Major Occupations (Similar Skill Sets)
Currently Employed
5 Year Projection
Elementary and Secondary Teachers, College Instructors, Early Childhood Educators, Other Instructors
1215
146
Heavy Equipment Operators
220
105
Construction Trades Helpers and Labourers, Public Works Labourers
210 94
Light Duty Cleaners and Janitors
590 81
Carpenters
275 57
Accounting Technicians, General Office Support, Reception, Data Entry, Accounting Clerks, Payroll Clerks, Library, Shipper/Receiver, Dispatcher
430 56
Admin Officers, Executive Assistants, HR, Property Admin, Admin Assistants
440 53
Retail Sales
415 49
Teacher Assistants
260 31
Chefs and Cooks
200 29
Registered Nurses
205 25
Security Guards
195 23
Ironworkers
Firefighters
190

14. Trends Report – Observations
N SK high youth population makes overall economic growth challenging
240 jobs/year through 2.4% vacancy (10,000 jobs)
600 new workers/year entering workforce
700 new jobs/year needed to get to provincial employment rate of 60% in 10 years
About 300 new jobs/year needed just to keep up
About 1,000 new jobs/year needed to get to provincial rate in 10 years (or combination of jobs and export of workers)
Although important, education is not the only factor affecting our employment rate
In addition to strategic post-secondary education and training, we need development of our economy to create jobs

15. Trends Report – Observations
Ideas for N SK Economic Development may be gained by review of Economic Development Initiatives in the Territories. Common Elements are:
Certain sectors are targeted for development
Public promotion of investment opportunities
A strategic plan in place to guide development efforts
Given the challenges of creating enough jobs in the region, it may also make sense to prepare workers for employment outside the region as well
This adds new aspects and considerations to training besides skill demand in the region

16. Trends Report – Observations
Two linked Strategies may work best:
Economic Development
Human Resource Development
Economic Development Strategy
Use sectoral approach that identifies sectors targeted for growth and initiatives within
Private sector investment a major driver
Regional plan refined at community level
Outcomes and Indicators defined
Human Resource Strategy
Analysis of numbers entering workforce and northern, provincial, and national demand
Promotion of careers in demand occupations
Marketing northern workers outside region
Regional plan refined at community level
Outcomes and Indicators defined

17. Trends Report – Observations
Government Assistance at Federal or Provincial levels to develop these strategies does not need to be extensive
It would not benefit the residents of N SK to wait for these levels of government to initiate the development
However, involvement would be welcome
The Northern Labour Market Committee (NLMC) may have the reach necessary for Strategy Development
Committee originally set up about 35 years ago to guide training development, and has been successful
Things have changed in 35 years, however
NLMC open membership and sector sub committees could work very well for creation of economic development and human resource strategies
Could reach out to other partners – communities, industry, business, NGO, Education, Health, Associations

18. Trends Report – Observations
It is possible to start to reverse the flow of economy out of N SK. This can be achieved by
Attracting investment
Selling products and services
Attracting residency
The corridors through which our economy flows out to other regions go both ways. Economy can flow back to our region through the same corridors.
Knowledge development in N SK is essential to economic growth. Areas that need applied research and knowledge dissemination are:
Market knowledge – demand for products and services - specific demographics and regions
Geomatics – technologies that enable study of plant abundance and ecological sensitivity, map creation to inform sustainable development practices and land access policy

19. Trends Report – Follow Up
Full Report available online at:
More detailed reports on Sector activity forthcoming. Mining in early 2017 after feedback received on effects of Rabbit Lake slowdown
Update to full report in November 2017
KCDC will continue activities related to career services, economic development, and training to employment
Community Economic Development Intern Training (with Geomatics)
Post Secondary Graduate Employment Service
Workshop Coordination, product and market research for Non-Timber Forest Products
Support for exploration sector through “Core Day” and advocacy for Pre Cambrian Laboratory
Career Events and presentations, program and resource development
Custom training development and coordination services (e.g. Fish Plant worker for Ile a la Crosse Fish Co.)

20. Trends Report – Follow Up
KCDC widening its scope as an industry/education council
Include support of economic development
Expanding its membership to: “Any organization that Serves Northern Saskatchewan”
Changing its mission statement to: “support sustainable socio economic development in Northern Saskatchewan by connecting communities, business, industry, educational institutions and employment agencies”
Changing its name to Keewatin Community Development Association.

21. Thank You! Randy Johns CEO, KCDC (306) 425-0371 Randy.johns@kcdc.ca