Saskatchewan posts third consecutive month of unemployment increases
It’s a mixed bag and depending who’s speaking Friday’s job numbers are either great news or an indictment on where things are at in Saskatchewan
Published Sep 08, 2023 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 2 minute read
Saskatchewan remains under the national average for unemployment but has posted three months of consecutive increases in unemployment according to the latest national report.
The provincial employment rate dropped 1.2 per cent between August 2022 and August 2023, according to data collected by Statistics Canada as part of its monthly Labour Force Survey.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
- Get exclusive access to the Regina Leader-Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
- Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
- Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
- Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.
- Get exclusive access to the Regina Leader-Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.
- Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.
- Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.
- Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
The national unemployment rate is currently 5.5 per cent, and Saskatchewan skirts in just under the average at 5.4 per cent for August 2023. Unemployment in Saskatchewan a year ago was at 4.6 per cent. In June the rate was 4.7 per cent, in July it was 5.1 per cent.
For context, the employment rate refers to “the number of employed people as a percentage of the population aged 15 and older.”
Carla Beck, leader of the Opposition, said rising unemployment in a time of increased costs across the board is cause for concern.
“In a province like Saskatchewan, with the potential that we have here, consistently being last in the country is not acceptable,” said Beck.
“You don’t just get to pat yourself on the back for effort.”
Meanwhile, the government saw the same data set and saw a rosier picture.
The province pointed to the 4,600 new jobs added year-over-year in August as a victory, as is “the labour force climbing to 632,800, an all-time high. Monthly job gains showed 2,800 jobs created, ranking third in the country,” said the government in a press release.
In that same release Jeremy Harrison, minister of immigration and career training, said the province is inching ever closer to its goal of adding 100,000 jobs by 2030.
“Investment in Saskatchewan is driving our economic growth, but our strong labour force is critical to Saskatchewan’s continued advancement on our goal of making Saskatchewan the best place to live, work and raise a family,” said Harrison.
Beck said in the back-and-forth “he said, she said” of one side taking a victory lap while the other points at flaws means people need to ask themselves simple questions: “Are you better off than you were five years ago? Are your neighbours better off?”
As for unemployment, Beck said the province needs to step up and address, in particular, rising unemployment as a major issue and to not be content with narrowly being below the average across Canada.
“I don’t see a government, I don’t see a premier, that seems really serious about acknowledging a problem, let alone getting to work, turning around some of those really troubling trends,” said Beck.
As it stands among the provinces, Saskatchewan is third amongst provinces when it comes to the unemployment rate.
alsalloum@postmedia.com