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Q06: Reasons why respondents found the Sector Studies not easy to read

• The studies are quite large which makes them more difficult to read, but the portions I focus on are easy to read.
• The key findings could have been highlighted in a more user-friendly way. They could have done better summary tables. They put it together like it was only going out to technical analysts. What about government officials and educators?
• Some of the information was a bit repetitious.
• I didn't find it as well organized or as insightful as I thought it would be. I wasn't as struck with the presentation of the material. I thought it could have reflected more clearly what the results were, perhaps by putting more of it in point form.

Q10 a-i: How respondents use the information in the Sector Studies

OVERALL RESPONSES (response given applies to ALL Sector Studies)

• We use the Sector Studies to brief our minister. The Studies are also used to help create new LMI projects, analyze job skill shortages, and analyze labour market shortages.
• We use the Sector Studies to analyze occupational projections for comparison purposes and to study industry or sector overviews.
• We use the Sector Studies mainly for operational planning for our business fiscal year.
• We use the information in the Study as the basis for projects and reports.
• We use it to try to compare and confirm information in there with partners and employers we work with. We use it as a backdrop in follow-up Sector Studies or needs assessment in determining if it is still current in that industry.
• We use it for needs assessment in terms of training and educational needs of the Region.
• We do a Regional Training Needs Assessment, using them to gather provincial data to compare to our regional data.
• We consult the Sector Studies to look at job opportunities available for the demographic group that we primarily deal with. I guess it is called Needs Information in terms of where growth is occurring in certain sectors.
• We are doing a research and development project for the provincial government. We are studying the nature of the labour market and are also trying to develop an ongoing system for collecting labour market information.
• To identify it was done, and when working with it again, to see that the sector builds on what is available, making sure the sector is aware of the Study, so we don't duplicate.
• The Studies are a good source for background information.
• The Sector Studies provide background information for speeches.
• My office is using the Sector Studies to provide background information, to provide information for reports, and to provide advice on new job training concepts.
• I use the Sector Studies to brief both the Minister and Deputy Minister of PSEST. The studies are also used to evaluate programs within the various regional colleges.
• I use the occupational information.
• I use it as a research tool for whatever sector I happen to be dealing with.
• I'm interested in an aggregate picture, skill shortages overall, and number distribution in the different sectors, seeing the picture of training that emerges, and possible directions for what can be done to solve employers' problems.

Agri-value

• I use it for needs identification pertaining to specific courses and programs that can and should be offered in West Central Saskatchewan.
• I'm using it to focus on where the job opportunities lie within the sector.

Energy

• I use the Sector Studies to analyze labour needs and trends. The studies also provide good background information.
• I use it as a periodic reference guide.

Tourism

• To look at tourism needs in Northern Saskatchewan.
• We use it in terms of trends in the tourism industry. We also use the sector study to quote statistics and to get feedback from private industry.

Information Technology and Communications Sector

• I use the Sector Studies to analyze labour needs and trends. The studies also provide good background information.

Construction Sector

• To look at construction needs for Northern Saskatchewan.
• We worked closely with the Saskatchewan Construction Association to try to increase First Nations participation in the trade. We used the Sector Study as part of a development scheme for the new program.

Fabricated Metal Manufacturing Sector

• No responses recorded.

Business Services Sector

• I'm using it to focus on where job opportunities lie within the sector.

Forestry Sector

• I use the Sector Studies to analyze labour needs and trends. The Studies also provide good background information.
• We use it for training needs identification and future employment skills requirements.
• To evaluate the relevance of our programs at the Woodland Institute and to understand future needs of employers in the Forestry sector.
• I have used the Study in connection with Northern Career Services.

Mining Sector

• To evaluate the relevance of our programs at the Woodland Institute and to understand the future needs of employers in the Mining sector.
• We use it for training needs identification and future employment skills requirements.
• I have used the study in connection with Northern Career Services.

Q11: Information respondents found particularly useful in the Sector Studies

Information on employment forecasts/trends/skill shortages/job vacancies/demand/ growth (14)

• The information concerning the size of employment in the Forestry and Mining sectors was useful for us.
• The needs for future and present training opportunities in each of the sectors is useful.
• The Studies include forecasts for changes in the labour market and employment skills.
• The information on job vacancy and demand in each sector's occupational list is useful.
• The projections for employment trends are useful.
• The statistical data and employment trends, are what we find most useful.
• The projections in terms of skill needs or job vacancies.
• The Studies outline skills shortages in the province.
• The information on employment trends, job vacancies, and present/future job skills is informative.
• Knowing the age group within that sector now, and when people retire, where jobs will be available in the future. Knowing what skills are needed for what jobs.
• The information on trends (i.e. what employment growth employers were forecasting for the next few years in comparison to a few years ago) is particularly useful.
• The identification of the vacant and underskilled positions, identifying those jobs that are problematical right now, and the emerging occupations and skills that will be needed in the future.
• The information on where the labour shortages are in a particular sector is useful. The studies also raise questions about future labour market demand in each of the labour sectors.
• I find the job forecasting information useful. I need to analyze what are the trends and needs of the labour force over the next five years.

Information on training needs/shortages (7)

• The information regarding what type of training is required by the different industries is also good.
• The examination of the type of training delivery methods.
• Training and education needs identification.
• We used information that helped explain what should be contained in the new training.
• The information on training needs that have not been met is especially useful.
• The statistical data, any of the training needs identified, is what we find most useful.
• The studies outline the training that is required for each sector.

Industry needs/profile/statistics/projections (4)

• The statistics that provide a profile of the industry are always useful.
• Statistics and the Industry Projections.
• I find the industry/sector overviews useful.
• The identification of the need in the industry was helpful.

Occupational profiles (3)

• I find the information on occupational overviews useful.
• The areas on the jobs, with the National Occupation Code in them.
• The growing emerging occupations were identified, on a broad sense, and I find it useful in matching what we're finding.

Executive Summary/overview (2)

• The narrowing down of information into the Executive Summaries is nice.
• The overview provided at the beginning of each section is useful.

Other (7)

• None of the information is particularly useful because our department receives the same information offered in the Sector Studies from other sources.
• I find the demographic research work to be useful.
• Everything in the Sector Studies is useful. We need all the information we can get on what's going on in a particular sector and what the future potential might be in that sector.
• I find that all of the information in the Tourism Sector Study useful in some way.
• Any information that pertains directly to Human Resources requirements, such as hiring new, and training existing employees.
• The information on the ages of employees working in a particular sector was useful.
• The trend projections are really helpful.

Q12: "Other" responses for how frequently respondents used the Sector Studies

• Bimonthly (2).
• We use it as baseline information on a periodic basis (2).
• Sporadic (i.e. use them extensively for a month or two and then not use them for several months).
• My office probably uses them on a quarterly basis.
• It depends if we have a sector partnership in that area.
• I use the studies when I have a specific application for them.
• 3-4 times a year.
• It depends on what we're doing. If we're studying proposed legislation we would use the studies more frequently than at other times. Not on a daily basis.

Q17: "Other" responses as to whether the sectors were defined most appropriately

• I can't really comment on that.
• It is difficult to classify these sectors so people may have problems with the classifications. However, the definition followed the industrial definition set out by other published material on employment sectors.

Q17b: How respondents would change the definition of the sectors

• The sector that lumped real estate, transportation and trucking together should be redefined. There may be a shortage of jobs in the real estate business, but not in the trucking business. The information becomes skewed.
• One example is that the Information Technology sector included the real estate and insurance industries, which should be classified under Business Services.
• I wouldn't have used the Department of Economic and Co-operative Development's criteria or terms (i.e. economic clusters).
• Information Technology should not include the Communications Sector. It should just focus on IT, as there are too many things in it. Tourism should not include Transportation or Beverage Manufacturing.
• I would use the definition of the tourism industry as outlined by the Canadian Tourism Association, which states there are eight sectors in the tourism industry. The food and beverage industry should not have been included.
• I would consult people in the Business Service, Information Technology, and Tourism sectors to see how they would define their sectors.
• I think there should have been clearer information on, and definitions of, adventure tourism and eco-tourism.
• I think that some of the industry categorization within each of the Sector Studies could have been done differently, particularly in the Tourism and Information Technology sectors.

Q19: Respondent's suggestions for other sectors that should be studied:

• The public sector (i.e. health, education) should be studied (3).
• The health sector should be studied (2).
• The health sector and the entire education sector (2).
• The service industry (i.e. retail sales).
• Police officers and the health sector.
• Implement manufacturing, fire and safety, arts and culture, food processing, apparel and textile, music and sound recording industry, export manufacturing industry, trucking industry.
• I think the food and beverage processing industry should be looked at separately from the agri-value industry.
• I think that the Studies need to look at some of the occupational sub-sectors within the official sectors. For example, the mining sector did not have much information about hard mining but focused on other resources.
• I feel there probably are others that should be studied, but no specific ones come to mind.
• Government services, health, and education.

Q21: Ways in which the Sector Studies have saved respondents' time:

Information is all in one place (8)

• The Sector Studies have the background information I need in one source.
• The information regarding the Sectors is in one place.
• My office only has to consult one resource for quick information.
• I only need one source to obtain some quick information.
• I only have to consult one source for quick information.
• I have only had to consult one source of information.
• There is no other place where I can get the same information that I get in the Sector Studies so they save me time because I don't have to try and locate other sources of information.
• I don't have to rush around trying to find all the information that I want when it is contained in the nine different Sector Studies.

Saves me/my office from having to gather this data on our own (5)

• The amount of time I would have had to spend in research and in getting these answers myself would have taken a lifetime. It was a real lifesaver for me.
• It has saved me time, by not having to gather the data regarding general trends.
• If we didn't have these Sector Studies, we would have to do the Studies on our own.
• I can use that secondary data rather than having to take the time to collect my own primary data.
• I can refer people to these Studies if they need information on employment by business sector rather than doing our own analysis.

Other (6)

• These Sector Studies fill us in on labour market data that didn't otherwise exist in other reports.
• It provided a definite starting point. The information was there. It provided a basic background.
• It is handy to refer to them when I need them.
• It has provided baseline information on industries that we didn't have before.
• It has been beneficial to what I do, saving the Steering Committee some time.
• I think that the Studies have clarified the link between training and economic development. I also only have to use the Studies for background information rather than trying to find that information from several sources.

Q23: Ways in which the Sector Studies have saved respondents' money

Saves money because we don't have to do the primary research ourselves (5)

• Not having to conduct my own primary research saves me money.
• It would cost money to do these studies ourselves.
• If we had to do this research ourselves, it would have a definite impact on our budget.
• It has saved us money indirectly, as we wouldn't have been able to undertake this scale of study on our own. We do not have the resources to do it.
• I don't have to replicate the information because it is all there for me.

They saved me time and therefore money (4)

• The Studies have saved me time, which means they have saved me money. (2)
• It has saved me money in that it has saved me time.
• In the sense that the Studies saved me time, the Studies have saved me money.

Information has already been gathered so we don't have to purchase it (3)

• We do not have to pay to gather the information that we want because it has already been gathered in the Sector Studies.
• It consolidates the information into one place, therefore saving us money because we do not have to pay a private company to gather the information for us.
• It has saved Human Resource time, and to a much lesser degree, the purchase of secondary sources to find that information.

Other (3)

• The Studies don't duplicate work done by others.
• I only have to consult one source for information rather than going to other sources and repeating the same information over and over again.
• Being able to utilize what's already been done may not have necessarily saved me money, but it has been cost-effective.

Q24b: Other results or effects brought about by using the Sector Studies

• We need a more rigorous labour market information system that is able to analyze labour trends over a period of time. We would like to incorporate the Sector Studies into national and provincial post-secondary training programs.
• They identified some of the key sectors in the province, so that when promoting and marketing, we utilize what projects we have here.
• They've supported the Sector Partnerships Program.
• The Studies supported the fact that there are skill shortages in the province. They also articulated that there is a lot of change going on in the province.
• The Sector Studies have influenced the way we interact with industry and how we evaluate our public institutions.
• The Sector Studies have been used to prepare other projects.
• The information within the Studies has been used as input for occupational trends reports that we do.
• The information in the Studies assisted us in one of our other projects.
• Some new programming was put in place because of the Sector Studies.
• It was beneficial to our regional offices. We have not been very experienced in strategic planning. To have this all laid out, to identify and plan training programs according to results of the Sector Studies, is just what we need.
• It stimulated us to build bridges with industry in various sectors of the economy, causing a greater awareness of understanding between the sectors.
• It had an impact on the type of program that we're offering to our region.
• Because the Sector Studies did contain information gaps, we realized that a broader study of the tourism industry was required.
• I think that a better program was developed as a result of consulting the Sector Study. The effects brought about by using the Sector Study were probably marginal, though. We had people from the construction industry work closely with us.
• From the Sector Studies we have developed other labour market initiatives. SIAST and other colleges have used the Sector Studies to conduct regional needs assessments. They have also been useful for the Sector Partnership Program.

Q26why: Reasons for using updated Sector Studies again/on an ongoing basis

Need accurate/current/background information (8)

• I would use updated Sector Studies to ensure that I am reading current information. Also, I would want to test the relevancy to changes in the economy, educational programs and services over time.
• I always need current information.
• We always need updated background information.
• It helps to keep the information that I'm conveying current.
• I always need updated information to help prepare projects.
• To have more accurate information.
• I need updated studies for research and information.
• Our regional training needs assessment is done on an annual basis, so we're always looking for current information.

Need updated information to study labour market trends (5)

• We need updated Sector Studies to study trends in the labour market.
• We need accurate and updated information in order to study trends in the labour market.
• We always need accurate information in order to study labour market trends because the market is changing so rapidly, especially in the Information Technology field.
• We always need current information to study labour market trends and which job skills are in demand.
• I need to study the forecasting of employment trends.

Information becomes quickly outdated/rapidly changes therefore need updated information (7)

• The industry is changing rapidly with adoption of new technology. Human Resources requirements are changing as well. The changes in global economy and the Asian economy have a great impact on our economies.
• Information changes over time and quickly becomes outdated.
• Things change within the sectors and careers. The updated versions would allow us to see what's new, and what's being phased out.
• We need to gather this information continuously because it quickly becomes dated after one study.
• Information on the labour market quickly becomes outdated.
• The data becomes outdated very quickly and we want to know what's happening around skills needs in the province.
• I can always use updated information because there are sectors which are changing so rapidly.

Would use the Sector Studies if the sectors were defined differently (2)

• If the sector was defined differently, I could use updated information.
• First, the Studies have to be redefined. Once redefined, we would continue to use the Studies in the same way that we do now. We would use the demographic information, the overviews, the needs information sections, etc.

Other (3)

• They are very relevant to what I'm doing.
• Needs assessment.
• If the sectors were smaller and developed further I would use them in the future.

Q27: Responses for how often Sector Studies should be updated

Annually (9)

• Annually, as best as possible.
• For our planning purposes, annually would be best.
• I think the Studies should be updated annually to make them more relevant.
• Annually would be nice, but I'm not sure that is practical.
• In general, I think that the Sector Studies should be updated annually.
• I think they could be updated yearly.
• Annually.
• I think the Sector Studies could be annually updated.
• I think the Studies should be updated annually.

Annually is ideal, but realistically every 2-3 years (4)

• Ideally, annually. Practically, every three years.
• It depends on the availability of information on a sector and how much effort it takes to put a study together. However, I would say that the Studies should be updated every two years. (Ideally every year)
• It would be nice to have the studies updated annually but that may be unrealistic. Therefore, I think having Studies updated every two to three years would be helpful.
• Ideally, the Sector Studies should be updated annually but, given the cost factor, these Studies should be updated every three years.

Every 2-3 years (4)

• Every three years.
• Every 2 years.
• Every couple of years the Sector Studies should be updated.
• I think that every three years should suffice.

Every 6 months (2)

• I think every six months should be good.
• Ideally, every six months would be great, but annually is more probable.

Other (9)

• I think that the tourism sector study should be updated every three to five years.
• I think the Studies should be updated on a rotating three year basis where one study is updated every three years rather than updating them all at the same time.
• I think that every five years should be sufficient.
• I'm not a labour market analyst but I would say the studies should be updated every three to four years.
• I think that the Studies should be updated every couple of years, depending on nature of the information within the studies. However, the Studies shouldn't be updated any more frequently than once a year.
• I think that the Sector Studies for faster growing industries (i.e., IT, Agri-Value) should be updated annually while other Sector Studies should be reviewed, but not necessarily updated, every year.
• I think the studies should be updated every three years and the new Studies should contain validity checks for employment forecasts made in previous studies.
• The updating of material for the Energy sector would be immaterial because we don't use it to make policy for our department.
• I think that Sector Studies should be updated when there's a lack of understanding of a particular economic sector.

Q28: Other comments on the Sector Studies

• The idea of the Sector Studies is good because it ends up saving us time and money. I do not have any more comments that I can think of right now.
• These Sector Studies should be put on the Internet and if they are on the Internet already, the website address should be more publicized.
• I need more specific regional data.
• They should be done as a partnership with industry, not as a government-run project. Unless there's a more efficient way to get reports done, we could not support this in the future. There's need of a more standardized format.
• There was too long of a delay between when data was gathered for these Sector Studies and when the published Studies were given to us.
• The Sector Studies are a good collaboration between the provincial and federal governments. The Sector Studies show us how poor the labour market databases are, which means it is difficult to understand labour market trends.
• I found the information to be outdated after six months. When the information came out there was demand in some areas and, when I looked at the Sector Studies six months later, there wasn't a demand anymore.
• Personally, I know that when we receive hard copies, they usually get placed into a file. If the Sector Studies were electronically accessible (i.e., the Internet), we would probably use them more often.
• It is a good, useful exercise for us to be involved in, but it only presents part of the picture. It deals with the demand side only. For Human Resources, we need to be in tune with demographics and impacts on employers' training needs.
• I would like to see a summary of the Sector Studies placed in the high schools, outlining training needs and job opportunities that are going to be there for them. It helps them make better choices.
• I would like to receive a copy of the sector study for the Mining Sector because I don't remember receiving a sector study for that particular employment sector.
• I think that they are providing valuable information to key stakeholders in developing the skilled workforce they need. They identify who the sector stakeholder is, provide background information, and identify growth areas within the industry.
• I think that the Studies should be completed independently from the government. These Studies should also be put on the Internet for better accessibility.
• I think that the Sector Studies were a good, cost-effective way to gather information. I thought the Studies should have focused more on specific Saskatchewan regional needs instead of just on provincial needs.

Q30: Respondents' Occupation

Director/Executive/Regional Director (9)

• Executive Director (3)
• Director of Planning and Policy
• Director of Planning and Research
• Acting Executive Director for Post-Secondary Education Administration and Skills Training
• Executive Director, Special Projects with Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training
• Regional Director for New Careers (East Region) in Post-Secondary Education
• Director of Programs, Cypress Hills Regional College

Project Coordinator/Program Development Officer (5)

• Project Coordinator (2)
• Program Coordinator for Prairie West Regional College
• Coordinator of Institutional Development.
• Program Development Officer

Research and Evaluation (3)

• Research and Evaluation
• Research Officer
• Research and Evaluation Consultant

Manager (3)

• Manager of HRDC
• Manager
• Program Manager, Sector Partnerships

Labour Market Specialist/Analyst (2)

• Labour Market Analyst
• Labour Market Specialist

Assistant Deputy Minister (2)

• Assistant Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines
• Associate Deputy Minister

Other (4)

• Vice-President
• Senior Policy Advisor
• Information Officer Post-Secondary Education Skills Training
• Labour Economist