Released on November 28, 2008
The Saskatchewan economy remains strong, as payroll earnings continue to increase, according to a release today from Statistics Canada.
"Saskatchewan people continue to enjoy good wages and earnings," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "We are pleased to see these increases month after month."
The average earnings of paid employees in Saskatchewan for September 2008 were $764.93 per week, up 0.6 per cent from the previous month.
Saskatchewan recorded the third largest year-over-year increase among provinces with 4.1 per cent, above the national average of 3.3 per cent.
More people are also working in the province. Saskatchewan recorded the second largest percentage increase in the number of occupied payroll jobs, with a jump of 3.1 per cent in September 2008 compared to a year ago. This increase is also above the national average of 1.6 per cent.
Fewer people are also receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. There were 8,300 people receiving benefits in September 2008, a drop of 8.5 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 3.9 per cent in the national average.
"We enter the holiday season with optimism and a sense of confidence in the economic future of Saskatchewan," Norris said. "We continue to build a stronger province and a better life for the people who live here."
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For more information, contact:
Joy Johnson
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1331
Email: joy.johnson@gov.sk.ca