FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT INCREASES

Released on November 6, 1998

Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon today

said full-time employment in Saskatchewan continues to rise and total

employment has remained steady due to the diversity of the provincial

economy.



"The average number of people working full-time in the first 10 months

of this year has increased by 8,500 according to Statistics Canada

figures," MacKinnon said. "Our government is particularly pleased

with this increase in full-time employment. We are creating the kind

of jobs which hold the most benefit for Saskatchewan workers and their

families.



"It's also significant that the average number of jobs is increasing

in non-traditional sectors like manufacturing, construction and

services. That's a clear sign that our economy is more diversified

than ever before and better able to withstand outside pressures.



"Total employment remained unchanged from October of 1997 to October

1998. However, the average number of people working in the first 10

months of the year actually increased by 4,900," MacKinnon said.



Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 5.2

per cent in September, well below the national rate of 7.4 per cent.

Regina's unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent is the lowest of any major

city in Canada.



Other indicators are also positive for the economy. Housing

starts have increased 16 per cent in the first nine months of the

year and capital investment is up 6.7 per cent.



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For more information, contact:



Dave Barr

Economic and Co-operative Development

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-7982

SECD World Wide Web site: http://www.gov.sk.ca/econdev