Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition
 Home  |  About  |  Committees  |  Partners  |  Press Releases  |  Newsletters  |  FAQs  |  Contact
The Great Southwest
At a glance
Communities Profiled
Regional Map
Homemade Products
  of the Southwest
Know Your Region
Summary
Background
The People
The Society
The Economy
The Industries
Employer Survey
Quality of Life
Appendices
Tools & Resources
Articles
Economic News
Reports
Self-Help Toolkit
How to Network Book
Self Evaluation Workbook
Cool Communities - Cool Companies Project

This project is about creating an environment in southwest Saskatchewan that will attract and retain young talent. Action Southwest is instigating a project designed to create an environment that is conducive to the needs of young professionals. This environment will have positive economic spin-offs, as it will help to attract and retain skilled and unskilled labour to the southwest region of Saskatchewan.

Here are a few important factors we know about young talent:

•  They marry later in life. In 2004, the average age of a first marriage was 27 for women and 25 for men.
•  Generation X (born 1961-1981) is the first generation to have deeply imbedded skills sets in technology. This makes them a highly desirable demographic to Saskatchewan employers and impacts how marketing messages should be designed to reach them.
•  Young professionals are very entrepreneurial. Between half and two-thirds of all new companies are started by people of color, women and Gen X'ers.
•  There are 2 'baby-boomers' retiring for every 1 person entering the workforce.
•  When asked "What makes a community attractive?" young talent report that factors like "Third Spaces," the arts, culture, ethnic restaurants, public parks, trails, and recreation areas, farmer's markets; diversity, and recycling are critical factors. Jobs are not enough .
New strategies will be required to attract and retain a new generation. Swift Current and region must determine how it ranks in the minds of the next generation so that it can craft messages and opportunities that resonate with the next generation.

 

This project will address the issue of attracting and retaining talent as an economic development issue. This is not an "HR issue" or a "touchy feely" campaign. Attracting, retaining, and engaging the next generation is a bottom line issue for Saskatchewan 's employers, tax base, and civic institutions.

Status: A committee is being formed and a funding proposal has been circulated for funding support. If successful the following leaders have committed to advancing the project.

Cool Action Team

Lead: Sandra Blyth, Action Southwest

Support/ Advisory:

  • Sandra Blyth – Regional Project Manager, Action Southwest
  • Dallas Gislason - Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation
  • Dianne Sletten, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation
  • Marty Salberg, City of Swift Current
  • Keleah Herron, Program Coordinator, Cypress Hills Regional College

Back to Current Projects | Back to Home

Action in the Southwest

Projects in ACTION
Branding the Region
Swift Current Regional
  Airport

Regional First
  Impressions

Corridor for   Competitiveness
Lean Manufacturing
  Consortium

Manufacturing Week
Regional Tourism Map
Cool Communities -   Cool Companies
Ethanol Project
Transportation Study
Measuring the SW   Economy
Cluster Project

Learn More ...

Projects Pending ACTION
Manufacturing Projects
Energy Projects
Agribusiness Projects
Tourism Projects

Learn More ...

If you have a project you’re excited about and want to share it with the Southwest
Tell us more ...