Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate drops in September

Saskatchewan recorded the largest month-to-month drop in unemployment rate in Canada in September.

According to job numbers released Friday by Statistics Canada, the province’s unemployment rate went from 7.0 per cent in August to 6.3 per cent in September. B.C. and Ontario had the next-largest drop, at 0.3 per cent.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Canada dropped by 0.2 per cent from August, to 6.9.

Saskatchewan’s rate dropped by 0.8 per cent from September of 2020, well behind the decreases recorded in Alberta (4.0 per cent), B.C. (2.7 per cent), Ontario (2.3 per cent), Newfoundland and Labrador (2.1 per cent) and Quebec (1.8 per cent).

Canada’s unemployment rate fell 2.3 per cent year over year.

Manitoba had the lowest unemployment rate among provinces and territories in September at 5.6 per cent, followed by Quebec (5.7 per cent) and B.C. (5.9 per cent).

Statistics Canada said Saskatchewan gained 11,500 jobs in September compared to the same month in 2020, an increase of 2.0 per cent. Month-to-month seasonally adjusted employment grew by 5,300 (0.9 per cent) from August of this year.

“Saskatchewan’s economy continues to show resilience as it has throughout the pandemic, with more job gains and a low unemployment rate,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a media release from the provincial government.

“As our economy continues to recover and grow, we’ll see even more good jobs and opportunities for Saskatchewan people in the months ahead.”

The provincial government said off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up 7,000 jobs (a 13.1 per cent increase), resulting in 10 straight months of year-over-year increases. That statistic reached an all-time high of 60,600 jobs, 51,200 of which were full time.

Aboriginal youth employment increased by 4,100 jobs (up 47.1 per cent) for a sixth consecutive month of year-over-year increases. That number also reached an all-time high at 12,800 jobs.