Saskatchewan Adds 2,600 Jobs in August

Saskatchewan added 2,600 jobs in August, according to the latest provincial labour force figures, even as the rest of the country shed nearly 42,000 jobs.

That left the province’s unemployment rate at 6.0 per cent in August, the third lowest among provinces and below the national average of 6.4 per cent.

In the private sector, employment was up 18,200 jobs year-over-year, an increase of 4.9 per cent. Construction led the way with 6,100 new jobs, a 12.2 per cent increase from last August, followed by manufacturing, up 4,900 (18.3 per cent), and finance, insurance, real estate and leasing, up 3,500 (11.8 per cent).

Both of Saskatchewan’s biggest cities saw year-over-year employment growth. Regina was up 5,000 jobs (3.3 per cent), while Saskatoon rose 1,300 (0.6 per cent).

Immigration and Career Training Minister Eric Schmalz credited the province’s “strong, steady economy,” saying it continues to outpace the rest of Canada.

The release also pointed to Saskatchewan ranking second among provinces for year-over-year growth in urban housing starts and first for growth in month-over-month building permits.