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Sask. employment rate drops from August, below national average

Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate has dropped from 7 per cent in August to 6.3 per cent in September
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For the first time in a few months, Saskatchewan has seen a decrease in the provincial unemployment rate.

REGINA — Statistics Canada is reporting another month-to-month dip in Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate, indicating that the province’s job recovery rate is on the rise in multiple areas.

According to data shared by the national agency this week, Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate has dropped from 7 per cent in August to 6.3 per cent in September. 

This places the province below the seasonally-adjusted national average of 6.9 per cent, as well as the 7.1 per cent recorded in September of 2020.

Manitoba currently boasts the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, at  5.6 per cent, followed closely by Quebec and British Columbia.

Approximately 11,500 jobs were gained in the last year, says the data, representing an increase of 2 per cent. Since August, the province has seen 5,300 jobs added, or just under 1 per cent.

The provincial government is also reporting that Aboriginal employment numbers are also rising, with an additional 7,000 jobs for the last ten consecutive months of year-over-year increases.

Year-over-year reports are showing increases in many sectors in the province, including wholesale and retail, healthcare and social assistance and manufacturing. 

Private sector employment is also rising, up 5.6 per cent, and female employment also increased.

Youth employment saw the addition of 7,300 jobs, an increase of 9.3 per cent. Aboriginal youth employment is also up 4,100 jobs for six consecutive months.

The youth employment rate in Saskatchewan was noted to be the second lowest among the provinces at 9.1 per cent, below the national average of 11.3 per cent.