The Saskatchewan government is boasting numbers from Statistics Canada that say the province is adding jobs and enjoys one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, but the construction industry, however, faces some daunting hurdles in the next few years.

“There is definitely a labour shortage in Saskatchewan, and all across Canada actually,” said Shannon Friesen, CFO of the Saskatchewan Construction Association.

She said this is a multi-faceted issue, noting some people never came back to work after the initial shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. An ageing workforce is also an issue.

“In the next nine to 10 years, 21 per cent of our labour force in the construction industry will be retiring.”

She said people have left the industry faster than construction firms can replace them.

“(There are some) perceptions that it is a second rate choice. If you’re not cut out for university, you can go on the skilled trades side of life, and that’s simply not true.”

She said the association is working to change those misconceptions.

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