The SIWI initiative supports businesses in Medicine Hat and the region by improving team cohesion, communication, retention and addressing local shortages in skilled labour. Backed by the Government of Alberta and led by Saamis Immigration Services Association, it equips participating organizations with targeted training, recruitment tools, and performance-enhancing strategies. 

• Alberta is on track to face a shortage of more than 45,000 workers by 2033 in critical sectors such as healthcare, construction, and technical services (Alberta Labour Market Outlook 2023–2033). At the same time, over 55% of globally qualified professionals in Canada are underutilized—working in roles well below their skill level ( Statistics Canada, 2024).
• The productivity gap doesn’t stop there. Only 18% of employees globally report being “extremely satisfied” with their jobs ( Gallup, 2024), and in Canada, low engagement drives higher turnover and lower output.

Research from the Harvard Business Review shows that a strong sense of workplace belonging can deliver measurable ROI:

• 56% increase in job performance
  
  
• 50% lower turnover risk
  
  
• 75% fewer sick days
  

 For a 150-person company, these improvements can mean over $780,000 in annual savings. Canadian employees with high workplace belonging are 167% more likely to recommend their employer, earn double the raises, and are promoted 18 times more often.