Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate was 4.4 per cent in March 2015 (seasonally adjusted), maintaining the lowest rate among the provinces for the 18th straight month, well below 6.8 per cent recorded nationally according to Statistics Canada.
“We continue to have the lowest unemployment rate in Canada thanks to employers creating more new jobs for Saskatchewan people, showing confidence in our diverse economy,” Immigration, Jobs, Skills and Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “The increase in the number of jobs over last year is proof that Saskatchewan’s economy remains strong.”
Job numbers in Saskatchewan were on the rise this March, up 6,400 (1.1 per cent) over last March, the third highest percentage growth among all provinces.
“In this year’s budget, our government made some major investments in skills and training,” Harrison said. “Our goal is to make sure Saskatchewan people have what they need to move into employment opportunities that are available now. This benefits employers and helps keep the economy moving forward.”
Other highlights include:
Full-time employment increased year-over-year by 8,700 and part-time decreased by 2,300.
Regina’s employment was up 1,800 (+1.3 per cent), and Saskatoon’s employment was up 2,100 (+1.3 per cent) compared to last March.
Major year-over-year gains were reported for business, building and other support services, up 29.8 per cent; utilities up 8.8 per cent; other services up 7.1 per cent; educational services up 6.8 per cent; finance, insurance, real estate and leasing up 6.6 per cent.
Off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up 400 (+0.9 per cent) from March 2014.
Youth unemployment rate was 8.6 per cent (seasonally adjusted), lowest among the provinces, and below the national rate of 13.0 per cent.
Saskatchewan’s employment increased 7,000 from the previous month with a rate of 1.2 per cent that ranked highest among provinces (seasonally adjusted).
Nationally, employment was up 28,700 (+0.2 per cent, seasonally adjusted) from the previous month. In the rest of western Canada, Alberta’s employment was up 1,500 (+0.1 per cent), B.C. was up 5,700 (+0.2 per cent) and Manitoba was up 6,100 (+1.0 per cent) from the previous month (seasonally adjusted)
