New data from Statistics Canada shows year-over-year job growth in Saskatchewan continues to increase.
There were 13,000 more jobs in Saskatchewan as of August 2019 compared to the same time last year. Full-time employment increased by 4,300 jobs and part-time employment increased by 8,800 jobs, according to a provincial news release.
This marks the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year job increases. Month-to-month employment also rose by 2,800 jobs from July 2019.
“Saskatchewan continues to see steady job creation in spite of headwinds created outside our province,” Jeremy Harrison, minister of Immigration and Career Training, said in the news release. “We will keep standing up for our province against policies that threaten our economy and the jobs of Saskatchewan people, and continue our efforts to diversify export markets for Saskatchewan goods and products.”
Other August highlights:
- All-time records were set in August for the working-age population (890,200) and labour force (625,700)
- Major year-over-year gains were reported for accommodation and food services, up 4,400 jobs; manufacturing were up 3,400 jobs; and professional, scientific and technical services were up 3,200 jobs
- Off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up 3,800 jobs (an increase of 8.2 per cent) for the second consecutive month of year-over-year increases
- Private sector jobs were up 6,200 (an increase of 1.8 per cent)
The unemployment rate in the province dropped to 5.1 per cent in August (seasonally adjusted), down from 6.6 per cent a year ago and 5.4 per cent last month.
Saskatchewan had the third-lowest unemployment rate in the country, below the national average of 5.7 per cent.
