StatsCan: Sask. unemployment rate drops in August

Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate fell in August, and the province now has the third-lowest such number in Canada.

The monthly Statistics Canada labour force report said the province’s unemployment rate last month of 5.1 per cent was higher than only those in Quebec (4.7 per cent) and British Columbia (5.0 per cent). The national rate was 5.7 per cent.

Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate was 6.6 per cent in August of 2018.

Employment was up 12,500 jobs in the province from August of last year. It also increased by 2,800 over July of 2019.

“Saskatchewan continues to see steady job creation in spite of headwinds created outside our province,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a media release issued by the provincial government.

“We will keep standing up for our province against policies that threaten our economy and the jobs of Saskatchewan people, and continue our efforts to diversify export markets for Saskatchewan goods and products.”

According to Statistics Canada, the biggest year-over-year gains in the province were made in accommodation and food services (up 4,000 jobs), manufacturing (3,600 jobs), and professional, scientific and technical services (3,300 jobs).

The biggest decline was in wholesale and retail trade, which dropped 2,900 jobs.

The provincial government also said off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up 8.2 per cent (3,800 jobs) from the previous year.