32 business elite canada
H
NOV 2014
approximately 1,300 members. Member com-
panies vary in size from two-person shops to
companies with 1,000 employees. The infra-
structure around these various organizations
differs from one company to the next. For ex-
ample, of 7,735 non-residential construction
companies in the province, only 338 of them
have more than 20 employees.
“The vast majority have HR needs and sup-
ports and do not have extra staff. We try to
give resources and supports in HR as required.
In addition, for larger firms in the province we
host semi-annual meetings for their human re-
source specialists,” he explained.
These meetings are held to discuss HR prac-
tices, policies and advocacy efforts to help
companies meet the needs of their workforce.
New technologies predominantly in the oil and
gas industry have allowed for expansion in Sas-
katchewan. Innovation in the oil and gas sector,
technology, mining and advances in agriculture
in the province have allowed for growth in the
construction and manufacturing industries,
which in turn stimulates more growth in the
service economy.
“It’s really a trickle-down effect of require-
ments for meeting the needs of the growing
population. The work that we do is built to
sustain and develop other industries in the
province, so as those industries grow, then
the demand for construction workers tends
to increase,” said Folk. “But, if we don’t have
a viable competitive construction industry and
workforce, then we won’t continue to grow.
For example, if it’s too expensive to build we
will not attract new industries and construction
in the province.”
Folk acknowledged that there is a skilled la-
bour shortage in Saskatchewan’s construction
