Saskatchewan added 12,000 jobs in the last year but almost 24,000 vacancies still exist.
The provincial rate of vacant jobs at 4.9 per cent is below the national average where one in 20 jobs goes begging to be filled, according to Statistics Canada’s October labour force survey.
Highest rates of vacancy are in accommodation and hospitality where 9.3 per cent of jobs are unfilled, followed by construction at 6.5 per cent and health care with a 6.4 per cent vacancy.
With an average weekly wage of $1,144 Saskatchewan, workers here are paid 3.1 per cent more than the national average.
Highest average wages are in Alberta at $1,257 a week with lowest in P.E.I. at $927.
Saskatchewan average weekly wages are third highest in Canada, only behind Alberta and Ontario.
Year-over-year full-time jobs increased and part-time jobs declined with Saskatchewan following the trend
Employers hired 10,300 more full-time workers in the last 12 months with 4,200 fewer part-time workers.
Within Saskatchewan the Saskatoon-Biggar employment region added 20,000 jobs, with 1,000 added in the Swift Current-Moose Jaw labour region.
Prince Albert Northern lost 4,200 jobs with 2,000 lost in Regina-Moose Mountain and 1,300 lost in Yorkton-Melville
The number of job seekers in Swift Current-Moose Jaw was almost cut in half to 2,200 from 4,300. The region gained 1,600 workers since October 2021.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
