ONTARIO MISSION CREATES RECORD SASKJOBS VISITS

Saskatchewan's employer-led mission to the National Job Fair in Toronto has resulted in three days of record visits to SaskJobs.ca.

"By creating a strong, unified voice, Government and businesses have told a compelling story to the people of Ontario and beyond," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "It is a story of career, business and lifestyle opportunities - and these immediate results show very clearly that those people are listening."

SaskJobs hosted a total of 60,000 visitors between September 29 and October 1, including a remarkable 24,016 visits on September 30 - shattering the previous single-day record of 16,627 set on June 9, 2008. Of note, 6,300 Ontarians visited SaskJobs on September 30 - topping the previous record by a stunning 432 per cent.

The following is a list of additional early results for the mission:

• 4.7 million online ads appeared on computer screens in Ontario, with 1.1 million users clicking on those ads to interact with SaskJobs as a result;
• 8,500 - Number of Ontario job-seekers who met face to face with SaskJobs staff ;
• 4.61 - The likelihood of surveyed job seekers to move to Saskatchewan for a quality opportunity (on a scale of 1 to 5); and
• From 11 companies who provided follow-up data so far:
  • 1,750 resumes collected
  • 170 short-listed candidates

The mission also featured grassroots-level outreach events; a targeted mail drop and barbeque in the Toronto community of Thorncliffe hosted by Premier Brad Wall and Minister Norris. Wall, Norris and Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart also engaged in numerous business and media relations activities during the mission including meetings with Toronto's Chinese community and Southeast Asian community.

Saskatchewan employers have also expressed enthusiasm about the mission.

"Not only was our own participation in the National Job Fair an unqualified success, but the broader Saskatchewan presence in Toronto created invaluable awareness about our province," Saskatchewan Construction Association president Michael Fougere said. "We are looking forward to seeing significant, real benefits from that awareness."

In addition to tracking broad measurements such as population numbers and creating greater awareness in Saskatchewan, the government will continue to work with employers to track people who move to the province as a result of the mission.

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For more information, contact:

Christopher Jones-Bonk
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3106