Saskatchewan’s employment figures showed strong gains from April 2018 to April 2019, according to a government news release, with most full-time jobs being created in the private sector.
The job gains were primarily full-time employment, with such jobs increasing by 18,000 positions year over year. Jobs in the private sector were up 12,100. Major year-over-year gains were reported for agriculture, which increased by 4,100 jobs; accommodation and food services saw an increase of 2,500 jobs; educational services increased by 2,500 jobs; and health care and social assistance saw an increase of 2,500 jobs.
Saskatchewan’s year-over-year employment increased by 14,200 jobs from April 2018, which marks the ninth consecutive month of strong job gains for the province, the news release said.
Other April highlights include:
- On a seasonally-adjusted basis, there were 1,600 more jobs from March 2019, the fifth-highest percentage gain among provinces
- Saskatchewan had record high levels for the labour force, employment, full-time employment, and male and female employment for the month of April
- Saskatoon’s employment was up 7,100, and Regina’s employment was up 2,800, from a year ago.
The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 5.4 per cent last month, down from 6.4 per cent in April 2018. The unemployment rate was the fourth lowest in the country and below the national average of 5.7 per cent.
“Despite headwinds that our economy faces domestically and abroad, Saskatchewan job creators continue to show confidence in our province,” said Jeremy Harrison, minister of immigration and career training. “Our government will continue to stand up for Saskatchewan to ensure that our province remains the best place to live, work and to raise a family.”
