REGINA — Opposition New Democrats are raising alarms about youth unemployment in Saskatchewan and a lack of opportunities for graduates in the province.
At a media event outside the University of Regina campus, Opposition Leader Carla Beck said they are hearing frustrations from young people about the state of the job market.
"We've just come through grad season and we're hearing from so many of them that they're working so hard to build their future here in Saskatchewan, but they're frustrated by the lack of progress and the lack of prospects," said Beck.
"We see young people who are exhausted because even though they're putting in the work, they're doing everything that they're supposed to be doing, they often see dwindling opportunities around them. And unfortunately, when young people don't see a future, don't see those opportunities here in Saskatchewan, they often leave the province."
Joining Beck at the news conference was Fidel Prudente, a University of Regina political science student. He is an elected student representative and said he is involved in student events and initiatives, including volunteering in his community with local Filipino groups.
Prudente said it has "started to get discouraging" to approach the tail end of his degree and see that "there are not that many opportunities for me to enhance my skills in my desired field."
Right now, he said, he works in the fast food industry, which offers stable employment, but admits it "isn't really going to help me build my necessary skills for my career." He said he has "started to consider options outside of this province, such as Ontario."
He said students at the university "have the same attitude, in that they see that their futures look brighter if they leave this province."
"And honestly, my family chose to settle in Saskatchewan. We chose to call this place home. And it's a very difficult thing to say that I have started to consider leaving this place. I would very much like to build my career and my life here, and unfortunately, this has been driving me to consider other provinces."
Prudente also pointed to stiff competition just to get internships. He said as a political science major, the "option that was presented to basically all of us, including me, was go back to school, get another degree."
It is something he said he is having to consider.
"What they say is try harder. I guess that could be true for some, but a lot of students I know here work hard. They have good grades, and what they've been presented is nothing that's really stable."
Beck said it "should bother all of us, whether you're a parent or not, when we hear young people looking elsewhere for opportunities. There are times when young people want to go and experience things elsewhere, but when you have students who want to stay here, who are desperately looking for opportunity here, to hear them say that they worry that they're going to have to move provinces over to be able to realize that opportunity, I think should be worrisome to all of us."
Beck also pointed to a youth unemployment rate of 13 per cent, as well as rising tuition and stagnant wages, and students taking on an "incredible amount of debt."
"As Fidel said, he's done everything that has been described to him as the right path. I think it's time we focus more on the young people in the future of this province."
As for what the NDP is planning to do on the issue, it is proceeding with a series of town halls as part of its Your Future, Your Say consultations.
"We've had a number of meetings so far," Beck said. "As I said, I've been meeting with graduates as have our shadow ministers for the last month, and we will continue to do that work going into the fall. Simply put, this is our future. We want young people to see a future for themselves here."
