Released on February 4, 2011
In a sign of continued momentum, Saskatchewan has seen year-over-year employment growth for each of the past 12 months.
There were 517,400 people working in Saskatchewan in January, an increase of 7,400 over January of 2010 and a record for the month of January. Saskatchewan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent ranks second lowest in Canada (behind Manitoba), well below the national average of 7.8 per cent.
The news comes on the heels of a Statistics Canada release that placed the Saskatoon census metropolitan area (CMA) as the fastest growing CMA in Canada (Regina CMA was third) - and noted that average weekly earnings growth in Saskatchewan have led the country for two straight months.
"Saskatchewan's growing economy continues to create new opportunities for our people," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "With 12 straight months of employment growth, the fastest population growth and the fastest earnings growth in Canada, there is no better place to live and work than right here in Saskatchewan."
January also marked the ninth straight month of employment growth for First Nations and Métis people in Saskatchewan, which saw a year-over-year increase of 1,400. Employment for First Nations and Métis youth jumped by 1,900, or 31 per cent.
Other employment highlights for January:
- Full-time employment increased by 5,200 over last year;
- Private-sector employment jumped 10,100;
- Regina continues to lead employment growth in the province, with a year-over-year increase of 6,700; and
- Regina's unemployment rate of 4.5 per cent is the lowest among all Canadian cities. Saskatoon ranked third at 5.3 per cent.
Norris also noted a strong January for SaskJobs.ca, which saw a 27 per cent year over year increase in job postings.
"With more than 7,300 jobs posted today on www.saskjobs.ca, opportunities are available in every corner of the province," Norris said.
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For more information, contact:
Christopher Jones-Bonk
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3106
Email: chris.jones-bonk@gov.sk.ca