BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO/PRAIRIE PUBLIC) – During the Greater North Dakota Chamber “Policy Summit,” held in Bismarck, one of the sessions was about immigration – specifically, how some North Dakota businesses have been using immigrant labor to fill job openings.
The president and CEO of Sanford Health-Bismarck, Todd Schaffer, said Sanford has hired more than 300 immigrant nurses at its Bismarck and Fargo locations, and that number will likely grow to 600.
“We’ve been able to nearly eliminate our contract labor, and have been able to continue to expand services that we’re able to offer,” Schaffer said. “So, we’ve been able to continue to staff up units that may not have been fully staffed throughout the pandemic.”
Schaffer said there are some challenges in bringing immigrants in, which includes working to find them housing. He said he fully supports efforts to bring immigrants in to help solve a labor shortage.
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