The Moose Jaw/Swift Current labour region lost 1,600 jobs in April for 4,500 unemployed, according to the April Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey.
Added to the 600 jobs lost in the region during March, that put 2,200 workers on the curb looking for jobs.
There were 49,500 people working in the region at the end of April with an unemployment rate of 6.3 per cent, up from 5.6 per cent the previous month.
Moose Jaw’s unemployment rate was fourth lowest of the five regions in the province.
Highest unemployment rate was the Prince Albert Northern region going to 10.1 per cent from 7.1 per cent and losing 4,100 jobs in the month.
Saskatoon-Biggar, where the unemployment rate rose to 10 per cent from six per cent and 7,800 jobs were lost, had the second-highest rate.
Third highest regional unemployment rate was Regina-Moose Mountain in at 8.7 per cent, up three per cent from the previous month with a loss of 6,700 jobs.
Yorkton-Mellville has the lowest unemployment rate at 6.9 per cent with a mere 100 jobs lost.
About 31,000 jobs have been lost in the five regions during the last two months.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.netronjoy@sasktel.net.
