The next generation is younger than ever - column

Statistics Canada has recently reported that northern Saskatchewan has had a rising percentage of the overall population under the age of 20.

The trend has been so steady that industry has targeted northern Saskatchewan as being potentially one of the largest upcoming suppliers of labour for the province. As Saskatchewan’s workforce declines more and more with increasing retirees and shifts in the economy there is greater demand across all industries for new workers to fill the void.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was recently signed between several First Nations organizations and the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan to begin an Aboriginal Employment Strategy.  This is probably the most definitive sign of the times in terms of responding to modern demographics.  First Nations people from my region will benefit from this agreement as we rightly should, because ours is a region where the demographics are hard to ignore.

In northwest Saskatchewan we have a very, very young population. According to some of the statistics, approximately half of our population is under 24 years of age. And with this age demographic comes unique and specific needs and concerns that our local governments are often scrambling to address as the younger population continues to grow and develop.

But therein lays the challenge. What exactly do we need that young population to grow and develop into?

Some of the experts have told us to offer training in trades and industry. Others have said that we need to expand the roles of post-secondary programs province-wide. Regardless of which direction our communities head, the reality is that finding a place for the next generation to work, live and grow is a persistent concern for any population.

And while this rising youth demographic may be overwhelming to some, the many program and service providers in our region have been creatively adapting themselves to meet the challenges that this sector of the population brings with it.

This means making the best use of education and training resources while adapting to the rises and falls of the labour market. It is no easy feat.

Education programs and training services are being re-directed towards our youngest citizens including employment-readiness programs in trades, business, sports and recreation, healthcare, education, justice and a host of other sectors.

These initiatives have been created and re-created with those young community members in mind.

Over time our communities have had to adapt to shifts in population and this generation is no exception. As always, the role of the current generation of labourers and educators will be to assist and support the youth to grow into the adults that they actually want to be.

With the programs, activities and initiatives that every community in northern Saskatchewan is working on right now, demographics need to be constantly kept in mind.
And as the leaders in our society contour their future developments towards the needs of their young populations, there must always be the flexibility to allow the youth to make their own choices and follow their dreams.