The Government of Saskatchewan has announced a one time pandemic recovery initiative for employers and job seekers. The $4 million provides funding for paid work experiences for job seekers to acquire practical skills in sectors where workers are needed like hospitality, agriculture, retail, health and childcare.

Minister responsible, Jeremy Harrison says, “The Economic Recovery Work Experience Initiative will help address the gap of skilled labour shortages in key priority sectors,”

The project will connect up to 465 job seekers with employers looking to address their workforce needs, which the government believes will result in sustainable employment and access to new talent for the employers. It will be funded through the Canada-Saskatchewan Labour Market Transfer Agreements.

For the web:

To be eligible, participants must be job seekers working with SaskJobs Career Services or an approved service provider, and:
” Be at least 18 years of age;
” Legally entitled to work in Saskatchewan;
” Facing job search and skills related barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment; and
” Unemployed or underemployed (working less than 20 hours per week).
Employers will have the opportunity to provide meaningful work experiences for unemployed or underemployed job seekers and receive cost sharing for wages, including:
” Up to $6,000 per each work experience participant; and
” 100 per cent of the minimum hourly wage is covered in the first month, 80 per cent in the second month, and 60 per cent in the third and fourth months.