Unemployment Rises in Sask.
Statistics Canada has released the latest employment figures for the nation, revealing that Saskatchewan was one of two provinces to experience a decline in employment from June to July.
According to the Statistics Canada website, employment increased in Alberta, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island in July, while it decreased in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The other provinces saw little change in their employment figures.
The report indicates a total decrease of 5,700 individuals employed in the province, with 5,200 of them holding full-time positions between June and July. Looking at the year-to-date figures from January to July, there were 5,200 fewer jobs in Saskatchewan. Statistics Canada reported a drop in the “total employed, all industries” category from 589,000 in January to 583,800 in July.
Certain sectors experienced significant declines, including construction with a loss of 4,600 jobs, agriculture with 5,000 fewer jobs, and the goods-producing sector with a decrease of 9,500 jobs. On the other hand, the services-producing sector gained 4,400 jobs, transportation and warehousing added 3,000 jobs, and professional, scientific, and technical services saw an increase of 4,800 jobs.
Comparing July 2022 to July 2023, there was modest growth in employment in the province, with a net increase of 2,100 jobs.
However, Aleana Young, the NDP economy and jobs critic, pointed out that the decline in full-time “mortgage-paying jobs” is concerning given rising grocery prices and inflation. She emphasized that unemployment is on the rise and job opportunities are dwindling, contributing to a generational cost of living crisis that affects residents across the province.
Young shared anecdotes from her doorknocking efforts during byelections, where she encountered numerous stories of economic struggles. She also mentioned customers’ concerns at her own business, with some expressing that the current economic climate in Saskatchewan feels exceptionally challenging.
Jeremy Harrison, the minister of immigration and career training, held a contrasting view, highlighting the province’s year-over-year growth. He noted that Saskatchewan has maintained 28 consecutive months of job growth and continues to have the third lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate among provinces, standing at 5.1 percent. In comparison, Canada’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 5.5 percent.
Unemployment rates in Regina and Saskatoon remained steady at 4.4 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively, positioning both cities well below the national average.
While Harrison celebrated the influx of newcomers to the province, year-end statistics from Statistics Canada indicate that Saskatchewan’s employment growth has lagged behind the rest of Canada since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, Saskatchewan had 581,500 employed individuals, marking a 0.8 percent increase from the 576,900 employed in 2019 before the pandemic. This growth rate places Saskatchewan at the lower end of the spectrum, with Manitoba experiencing a 2.4 percent increase and the national average growth rate at 3 percent over the same time period.