Province again exceeds its population goal

Creating jobs for Islanders -

One year into Prince Edward Island’s Population Action Plan, the province’s population is larger than ever at 153,116.

There has been progress on all key indicators in the first year of government’s five-year action plan. It focuses on recruiting, retaining, and repatriating Islanders, with an emphasis on growing the Island’s rural population.

“PEI’s annual population growth rate is second only to Ontario and well above the national average, keeping government on target to reach its population goals by 2022,” Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Sonny Gallant said. “PEI’s working-age population is also larger than ever, which is great news because this growing and talented workforce is a key to long-term growth in our province.”

Population Action Plan year one highlights include:

• the working-age population is growing and on track to achieve the goal of 100,000 working age persons by 2022;
• Prince Edward Island exceeds the Canadian average for workforce participation;
• the provincial government continues to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses, with 34 businesses and 90 jobs created through the Start-up Zone;
• the province has retained over 10 percent of international students graduating from UPEI and Holland College;
• Prince Edward Island is supporting rural population growth through expanding rural infrastructure and working with rural economic advisory councils; and
• the province is improving settlement and retention programs for new Islanders, including expanded settlement services, reduced wait times for language training, and networking for newcomer professionals.

“As we enter the second year of this five-year population plan, we are putting special focus on recruiting former Islanders back to PEI,” added Minister Gallant. “I am confident that we will continue to see these positive population trends if we continue to work together – government, communities, businesses, and organizations – and demonstrate the connectedness and innovation that makes us the Mighty Island.”

Media contact:

Katie MacDonald
katiemacdonald@gov.pe.ca