Business leaders in Regina believe the economy could be on an upward trend.
A survey conducted in May 2016 by Praxis Consulting, in association with Economic Development Regina, reflected thoughts about the city’s economic standing.
Regina Executive Leadership Outlook (RELO), which consists of senior executives and CEOs, collected a total of 44 responses in its quarterly report.
The results determined that these professionals believe that future investments, number of employees, sales revenue, profitability and Regina’s overall economy will start to get better within the next 12 months.
The survey also examined the determining factors of what makes up the workforce and what is most important to employers in the city.
These factors included things such as infrastructure, student and recent-grad talent and the Regina brand.
Mark Heise, the vice president of Rebellion Brewing, says that one major factor is rebranding the skills people already have to use toward the job that they now want.
“When you talk about the shortage of skilled labor, I would more look at transferable skills,” Heise said.
“Clearly oil and gas industry has had some challenges; we frankly have just hired some people from the oil and gas industry to work in the brewing industry. So you can look at it as a negative or a positive.”
Heise adds that although the economy and the Canadian dollar may be down, the Regina advantage has been true to its name.
“The sky hasn’t fallen, and in Regina specifically businesses are still thriving and booming,” Heise said.
The results from the survey help community members to get a sense of what the strategy should be to help Regina grow and create a thriving economy.