Released on February 8, 2002
Saskatchewan's job picture brightened in January.Statistics Canada figures released today show employment rose by 4,200 over
December, 2001 (seasonally adjusted).
"The increase in the numbers is encouraging, and may signal the start of a
turnaround after a difficult year in 2001," Economic and Co-operative
Development Minister Eldon Lautermilch said. "The resiliency of our
economy is showing through, as we and economic forecasters predicted it
would."
Job numbers were up in manufacturing, construction, services and public
administration. Other economic indicators were also positive, with oil and
gas production, retail and department store sales, building permits, new
business incorporations and new motor vehicle sales all up. The number of
social assistance cases is at its lowest level in a decade.
The minister noted agriculture continues to be a short-term challenge, and
was a major contributor to a year over year drop in job numbers. Overall,
numbers were down 11,300 January over January (seasonally unadjusted), but
the minister said they show some improvement over statistics of recent
months.
"Our agriculture sector is in transition, as farmers retire, farms grow
larger and the industry shifts from traditional grain farming," Lautermilch
said. "The changes are having an effect on overall numbers in agriculture."
There were 470,400 people employed in Saskatchewan in January on a
seasonally adjusted basis.
Saskatchewan had the third lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 6 per cent
in January (seasonally adjusted), down 0.2 percentage points from December
and well below the national rate of 7.9 per cent. Saskatoon's unemployment
rate of 5.2 per cent (seasonally unadjusted) was the third lowest among
major Canadian cities.
"While today's numbers are more positive, we continue working to address
job creation - a top priority for this government," Lautermilch said. "Our
economic plan, Partnership for Prosperity, will help us repeat the decade
of growth we had in the Nineties. Through it, we're staying competitive,
investing in critical infrastructure, and aggressively going after growth."
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For more information, contact:
Bob Ellis
Economic and Co-operative Development
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-1691