Released on October 13, 1998
Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon todaysaid a year-over-year increase of 3,800 in the number of full-time
jobs in Saskatchewan is a positive sign for the economy.
"The move away from part-time positions to full-time employment is an
important step for Saskatchewan," MacKinnon said. "Full-time job
creation is the most beneficial for Saskatchewan workers and their
families.
"Despite the pressures of the Asian monetary crisis and lower
commodity prices, overall employment has remained steady from last
year to this year. According to Statistics Canada figures comparing
September, 1997 to September, 1998, overall employment in Saskatchewan
decreased only slightly by 300. That was primarily due to a decline
of 4,000 in part-time positions.
"One of the main reasons our economy has been able to withstand
outside pressures is the fact that it is more broadly based than ever
before. In fact, on average for the first nine months of 1998, there
are 5,500 more people employed than in the same time period for 1997.
"We're confident that significant projects like the expansion of the
Husky heavy oil upgrader at Lloydminster, the Alliance natural gas
pipeline project and the Synchrotron project at Saskatoon will boost
employment numbers and help keep our economy strong in the months
ahead," MacKinnon said.
Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in the country at
5.1 per cent in September, well below the national rate of
7.5 per cent. Regina's unemployment rate of 5.3 per cent is the
lowest of any major city in Canada.
Other indicators are also positive for the economy. Housing
starts were up more than 16 per cent in the first seven months of
1998, compared to the same time period last year.
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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