Released on January 5, 2007
It was a record-breaking year in Saskatchewan for jobs, with 2006 marking an all-time high for employment levels.Year-end job numbers released in the Statistics Canada Labour Force Report today show 491,600 people were employed in the province in 2006, breaking the previous record of 483,500 set in 2005 (seasonally unadjusted). This is the fourth year in a row the province has set annual job records.
"With more people working last year in Saskatchewan than ever before in our history, we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about 2007," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Glenn Hagel said on behalf of Industry Minister Eric Cline. "The 8,100 additional jobs are a sign we have a healthy economy, providing opportunities for Saskatchewan families and young people to build a solid future in the province."
Today's job numbers also represent a record for employment in the month of December. This marks the ninth straight month of record employment in Saskatchewan.
Jobs were up last month in agriculture, construction, services, the oil, gas and mining industries, trade, and finance, insurance and real estate. Manufacturing, transportation and public administration showed decreases from last year.
"Other economic indicators are also positive," Hagel said. "Manufacturing shipments, natural gas and oil production, urban housing starts, international exports, retail sales, building permit values and average weekly earnings are all up."
Manpower Temporary Services report 90 per cent of Regina employers and 87 per cent of Saskatoon employers surveyed are expecting their staffing levels to increase or stay the same between January and March 2007.
Saskatchewan's unemployment rate was the second lowest in Canada in December at 3.9 per cent (seasonally unadjusted), down one percentage point from December 2005 and well below the national rate of 5.7 per cent. This is the lowest unemployment rate for December in 30 years. Saskatoon had the second lowest unemployment rate among major Canadian cities at 3.0 per cent.
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| Joanne Johnson Industry and Resources Regina Phone: 306-787-1691 |