Released on April 5, 2007
Mark it down as a full year for record job numbers in Saskatchewan, and the lowest unemployment rate on record for March.
Statistics Canada figures out today show 494,700 people employed in the province in March (seasonally unadjusted figure). That’s up 20,300 over the figure for March 2006 and tops by 15,100 the old record for March set two years ago.
“March both came in and went out like a lion for jobs, giving Saskatchewan its 12th straight month of record job numbers,” Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. “Our economy is red-hot – a testament to our businesses who are seizing opportunities. It’s a good time to be a worker in Saskatchewan as more investors and people are attracted by the climate for growth that has been created here.”
Full-time jobs in Saskatchewan increased 12,100 over last March. Youth employment was up 8,700 over March 2006 and Saskatchewan’s youth unemployment rate was the second-lowest in the country. Employment for Aboriginal people living off-reserve was up 3,300 from March of last year.
Jobs were up last month in construction, services, the oil, gas and mining industries, and trade.
Cline cited other positive economic indicators. Manufacturing shipments, oil production, farm cash receipts, urban housing starts, international exports, retail sales, building permit values, average weekly earnings and new motor vehicle sales are all up.
According to multi-national staffing company Manpower Inc., 100 per cent of Regina and Saskatoon employers recently surveyed expect their staffing levels to increase or stay the same during the second quarter.
Saskatchewan had the third lowest unemployment rate in Canada in March at 4.2 per cent (seasonally unadjusted), down 1.4 percentage points from March 2006 and below the national rate of 6.5 per cent. Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate for March was the lowest reported by Statistics Canada for that month.
Saskatchewan Labour Force statistics can be found online at www.stats.gov.sk.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Bob Ellis
Industry and Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1691
Email: rellis@ir.gov.sk.ca