Released on November 8, 2013
For the tenth straight month, Saskatchewan has held the lowest unemployment rate in Canada. According to October’s Labour Force Survey released today by Statistics Canada, the province’s unemployment rate fell by 0.7 percentage points to reach 3.6 per cent, well below the 6.9 per cent reported nationally.
“One of the best measures of our economic success is the ability of people to find jobs,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said on behalf of Economy Minister Bill Boyd. “The opportunities for people to find work in Saskatchewan have never been better.”
Youth unemployment in the province was 6.3 per cent, also the lowest in the country, and less than half the 13.4 per cent posted nationally in October.
In October 2013, there were 556,500 people employed in Saskatchewan, an increase of 14,900 over last October. This represents a 2.8 per cent rise, the second highest percentage increase among the provinces.
“Having the strongest job market in the country will help us attract skilled workers to the province,” Doherty said. “In fact, our unemployment rate is now lower than 49 of the 50 U.S. states with the exception of North Dakota.”
Other highlights include:
- Year-over-year full-time employment increased by 9,000 and part-time increased by 5,800;
- Compared to October 2012, Regina's employment was up by 7,200 (5.6 per cent), and Saskatoon's employment was up by 12,200 (8.0 per cent);
- Off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up by 3,800 (9.5 per cent) for nine consecutive months of year-over-year increases. Aboriginal youth employment was up by 1,800 (20.2 per cent) to 10,700 for five consecutive months of year-over-year increases; and
- Regina's unemployment rate was 3.2 per cent and Saskatoon's unemployment rate was 4.6 per cent. Saskatoon's unemployment rate was the second lowest, and Regina's unemployment rate was the lowest among major Canadian cities.
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For more information, contact:
Deb Young
Economy
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4765
Email: deb.young@gov.sk.ca