Saskatchewan unemployment numbers jump 35 per cent year over year

It is another sign of the difficult economic times in Saskatchewan. The number of people relying on Employment Insurance in Saskatchewan rose more than any other province in November 2015.

Numbers from Stats Canada suggest 14,900 people received EI benefits in November, up 4.6 per cent from October and 35 per cent higher than November 2014. Saskatoon’s numbers rose 5.6 per cent and Regina was up 4.4 per cent.

Another troubling statistic is the number of EI claims in Saskatchewan. November numbers were up 6.4 per cent which also led the country. This number provides an indication of the amount of people who could become beneficiaries.

When looking at numbers from other provinces, 61,300 Albertans received EI benefits in November – an increase of 2.7 per cent from the previous month – which is second in the country. The number has doubled from November 2014.

EI claims in Alberta also shot up by 1.7 per cent.

The amount of beneficiaries in Manitoba rose 1.9 per cent in November, however, EI claims dropped 3.2 per cent.

Across the country, the most significant increase in unemployment numbers was for people whose last occupation was in natural or applied sciences, trades or transportation. Between 2014 and 2015, the number of EI beneficiaries who were working in natural and applied sciences rose by 17.7 per cent. People who were working in trades, transportation or as equipment operators made up a 16.1 per cent increase in those collecting EI.