Released on December 22, 2008
The Saskatchewan economy remains strong, as payroll earnings continue to increase, according to a release today from Statistics Canada.
"We continue to see an increase in the payroll earnings and wages of people in this province," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "People are making higher wages and enjoying a better quality of life."
The average earnings of paid employees in Saskatchewan for October 2008 were $765.75 per week, up 0.4 per cent from the previous month.
Saskatchewan recorded the third largest year-over-year increase in wages among provinces with 4.0 per cent, above the national average of 3.0 per cent.
More people are also working in the province. Saskatchewan recorded the third largest percentage increase in the number of occupied payroll jobs, with a jump of 2.8 per cent in October 2008 compared to a year ago. This increase is nearly double the national average of 1.5 per cent.
Fewer people are also receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. There were 8,300 people receiving benefits in October 2008, a drop of nearly five per cent from the same month one year ago. This is the largest drop in recipients of EI benefits across Canada and greater than the 6.3 per cent in the national average.
"We enter the new year with confidence in our economy," Norris said. "Our province continues to attract people as a great place to work and live."
-30-
For more information, contact:
Joy Johnson
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331
Email: joy.johnson@gov.sk.ca