For the fifth consecutive month, Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and there are more people working full-time in Saskatchewan than ever before in the province's history.
Saskatchewan's July unemployment rate of 4.9 per cent (seasonally adjusted) was well below the national average of 7.2 per cent.
Unemployment rates in Regina (5.2 per cent) and Saskatoon (5.4 per cent) rank second and fourth among major Canadian cities.
"The numbers show that Saskatchewan's economy remains strong and steady despite the economic uncertainty south of the border and in other parts of the world," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "With the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and our growing population, more people are experiencing first-hand the Saskatchewan Advantage."
There were 532,600 people employed in Saskatchewan in July 2011, the highest level for that month, and an increase of 2,200 jobs compared to July 2010. Full-time employment reached a record high of 452,500, increasing by 10,300 (2.3 per cent) from a year ago. Off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up by 3,300 (8.5 per cent). Employment among Aboriginal youth was also up by 500 (5 per cent), marking 12 consecutive months of year-over-year increases.
"The future remains optimistic for our province," Norris indicated. "Seven major economic forecasters place Saskatchewan's real GDP growth rate at 3.7 per cent in 2011, second highest in Canada."
"There are a multitude of employment opportunities available in every corner of the province," Norris said. "Our SaskJobs.ca website saw a 40 per cent year-over-year increase in the number of jobs posted by employers in July - demonstrating that Saskatchewan continues to be the place to live, work and raise a family."
Norris said that there are more than 8,800 vacancies posted on SaskJobs.ca.
