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Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate of any province in Canada, according to numbers released Friday by Statistics Canada.
In September, Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate was 4.1 per cent, down significantly from the 4.9 per cent rate the province recorded in August.
The unemployment rate in Regina dropped to 4.3 per cent in September from 4.4 per cent the month before, while the rate in Saskatoon rose to 4.2 per cent from 3.9 per cent.
Despite the decrease in the unemployment rate, StatsCan’s numbers also showed the labour force in Saskatchewan dropped by 7,200 people from August to September and the province’s full-time employment fell by 5,600 month over month.
Nationally, Canada’s unemployment rate for September was 5.2 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.
The highest unemployment rate in the country was found in Newfoundland and Labrador, where Statistics Canada reported a 9.5 per cent unemployment rate for September.
Premier Scott Moe celebrated the low unemployment in a Twitter post Friday morning, saying the numbers signal “strong growth in our labour markets.”
The premier also pointed to the 14,000 jobs available on the provincial website SaskJobs.ca, saying there “is no shortage of opportunities here in Saskatchewan.”
Saskatchewan’s population is also growing. Between April and July, the province’s population jumped by 6,465 people, the largest-ever quarterly increase. That growth was largely due to immigration, and brought the province’s population up to an estimated 1,194,803 people.
Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada!
Just released by StatsCan this morning, our province posted a 4.1% unemployment rate, signalling strong growth in our labour markets. pic.twitter.com/6HxqFmj8R5
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) October 7, 2022
NDP criticizes job growth in the province
The NDP is frustrated seeing Saskatchewan’s job growth rate fall.
The StatsCan report shows 5,600 full-time jobs were lost from August to September, making Saskatchewan the worst job rate out of all provinces.
NDP Leader Carla Beck said the provincial government needs to come up with a better strategy to retain people within the province.
“This is a concern that has been raised by job creators, by workers, by municipalities, and a real sense that there isn’t a plan for labour force development strategy to create and retain good jobs for people here in Saskatchewan,” Beck said. “Means aside, it’s very hard to put a positive spin on the numbers we are seeing here today.”
NDP MLA Aleana Young echoed Beck that there needs to be a better solution making jobs that retain the same staff.
“We have to recognize the population shrinkage that we are having right now in Saskatchewan, when we are leading the country in young people leaving,” Young said.
The StatsCan report showed 7,200 people left the province’s workforce in September. Young said it’s important that other sectors of the province, like health care, need to be strengthened so more people can stay here.
— With files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie