On March 26, the Government of Saskatchewan announced a partnership with Women Building Futures to support the Journey to Trades pre-employment program that will provide women with the skills they need to start their careers in the construction trades and embark on apprenticeship.
"This investment in skills training will further support Saskatchewan's Labour Market Strategy by ensuring residents have every opportunity to benefit from the jobs our rapidly growing economy is creating," Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "This partnership with Women Building Futures will provide the opportunity for women to gain first-hand experience in the skilled trades and take advantage of the in-demand jobs being created in the construction and maintenance industries."
The Ministry of Immigration and Career Training is investing $248,000 into the Journey to Trades program, which will support 18 participants over the next year. The program takes place in Regina, and will run for 12 weeks. Students will take part in classroom learning and receive hands-on skills development that will enable them to gain employment in entry level positions.
"At Women Building Futures, we recognize the need to eliminate barriers for women and under-represented groups, so they can get into resilient careers that pay higher than a living wage," Women Building Futures President and CEO Carol Moen said. "We help them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed and then connect our graduates with industry partners who nurture safe, equitable workplaces for women. With this investment, we are excited to grow our impact in Saskatchewan, supporting more unemployed and underemployed women on their paths to economic security."
The Journey to Trades program will be delivered through Women Building Futures, an organization that empowers women to explore careers by providing training and supports. This collaboration provides women in the skilled trades with skills training and work experience.
The Government of Saskatchewan works with post-secondary institutions and training providers to help prepare Saskatchewan people for jobs. These targeted investments into the skilled trades support the recently released Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, which outlines how the province is ensuring Saskatchewan has the labour force it needs to meet employer demand and Saskatchewan people benefit from the province's growing economy.
