This week is Construction Week in Saskatchewan.

The number of people employed in the Saskatchewan construction labour force as of October 2018 is 55,400. Of those, 7,300 were under the age of 24, and 5,500 were female.

Justin Hoyes, President of the Moose Jaw Construction Association, details an event they are putting on here in Moose Jaw again that highlights the variety of specialities within the industry for youth to try.

"This is our 4th year doing this for the kids. But we're putting on a 'Think Construction' event at Sask Polytech. We partner with Sask Construction Association, Prairie South School Division, Sask Polytech, and the Saskatchewan Construction Saftey Association join forces for a day of learning to promote the trades. It's a unique opportunity that allows 28 high school students from Prairie South Schools to participate in a day of hands-on experience from framing a shed to roughing and plumbing. During this time, we also discuss career paths with the students, answering any questions they have along the way. It's coming up April 10th, and starts at 9:30 and goes until 3:30."

Colin Pullar, President of the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association, explains the challenge the construction sector has, and how education is so important.

"The big challenge that most businesses have is getting the right skills that they need to do the work. So training and development with Saskatchewan youth, in particular, is critical. That's where our partnership with groups such as Sask Polytechnic, but also the other training institutions that prepare folks for work. Whether that be the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology, or Gabriel Dumont Institute training centres. They're really preparing the workforce for the future. And it's really about having people with the right skills, in the right place."

Pullar added that educating the public is also high on their priority list right now.

"We've got a whole range of tools, such as apps, we have regular 'ask the expert' type of programming, and our advisors are out on a daily basis meeting with companies throughout the province. And so, through those primary avenues, we've got people actively engaged in communicating with companies. And the general public, so that they are aware that when they are purchasing services in construction, some of the things they should be looking for.

Construction is a major industry in Saskatchewan. Census data from Statistics Canada, 2016, reported 13,500 businesses in Saskatchewan's construction sector. Pullar says it's almost entirely small businesses.

"It is a big employer, it impacts a lot of families. And you know, the majority of these businesses are small businesses, employing fewer than 10 to 20 individuals. Anywhere in that 90 to 95% of those companies are that small."

There are many events taking place over the course of the week, said Pullar, and "our organization is hosting the Construction safety Leadership Conference in Saskatoon on April 9th at TCU Place. That's going to be an exciting event, we've got leaders from across the industry in Saskatchewan going to be talking about the elements from a leadership perspective. How safety integrates with things like procurements, general contracting, law, finance, risk management and culture."

For a full list of events, go to constructionweek.ca/events. 

The theme of Construction Week in Saskatchewan this year is investment attraction.

"From our perspective, investment attraction has a number of different elements to it,"  Pullar added. "Certainly, there are broader general economic conditions. But it's also in having a really strong and prepared workforce. So when companies do want to go and invest, they've got accessible labour available with the skills and the leadership qualities within that workforce so they can be successful in their projects. A big part of what we feel that our obligation is to support the constructing of leadership from a safety perspective."

The events take place until Friday.