The job situation in the Swift Current-Moose Jaw labour region has returned to pre-pandemic lockdown levels.
With the second lowest unemployment rate in Saskatchewan’s five regions at 3.5 per cent, this region had 1,900 looking for work at year-end, according to the monthly Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey.
That compares with 2,500 unemployed in December 2019 before the pandemic and the high of 3,800 unemployed at Dec. 31, 2021.
This region has 54,900 people in the work force compared with 53,900 one year ago.
Sixty-six per cent of those eligible to work are working compared with 60.4 per cent at year-end 2021.
Lowest unemployment rate in the province at 3.4 per cent is Saskatoon-Biggar followed by Swift Current-Moose Jaw, 3.5 per cent: Regina-Moose Mountain, 3.7 per cent; Prince Albert Northern, 3.8 per cent; and Yorkton-Melville at 4.6 per cent.
Yorkton-Melville was the only Saskatchewan region with a higher unemployment rate, up from 4.4 per cent
Saskatchewan is one of six provinces with more jobs cerated and has an unemployment rate of 3.7 per cent, down from 4.9 per cent a year ago.
Canada’s unemployment rate of 4.5 per cent was down from 5.7 per cent in 2021 and is just a fraction above the historic low.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
