Saskatchewan is emerging as a national leader in employment, reporting the lowest provincial unemployment rate in March at 4.9 percent and the highest job growth in the country with 6,600 new positions added—a 1.1 percent increase. This growth stands in stark contrast to national figures, which saw Canada lose nearly 33,000 jobs and experience a slight rise in unemployment to 6.7 percent. Year-over-year, Saskatchewan also tops the country with a 3.1 percent employment increase.
Amid this economic momentum, the province has reopened its Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) following a federal decision to cut its 2025 nomination allocation by 50 percent. To adapt, Saskatchewan has introduced major policy changes aimed at prioritizing in-demand sectors and improving program efficiency.
New measures include sector-specific nomination caps—limiting allocations in retail, food services, and trucking to 25 percent of the total—and stricter eligibility for open work permit holders and international graduates. Several immigration pathways, including the Entrepreneur and Farm Owner categories, have been permanently closed.
With a focus on critical labour needs, the province will now prioritize applicants in healthcare, agriculture, and skilled trades. These changes reflect Saskatchewan’s strategy to maintain economic growth while aligning immigration policy with reduced federal quotas and evolving labour market demands.
