News Release
November 3, 2006
Industry and Resources - 781
JOB GROWTH SOARS, LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR OCTOBER SINCE 1979
Saskatchewan's red-hot economy has helped create yet another jobs record for the province. Statistics Canada figures released today show 501,700 people were working in Saskatchewan in October (seasonally unadjusted figure). That's up 21,800 over the figure for October 2005 and beats by 16,200 the old record for October set two years ago. October's figures also represented the seventh straight month of record job numbers for the province. "These are great numbers and provide the latest example of an economy and a province that are on a roll," Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "Our continued job growth is good news for both working families and for our young people who are building their careers and futures here." Full-time jobs in Saskatchewan increased 22,900 over October of last year. Youth employment was up 8,100 over last October. Jobs were up last month in construction, services, the oil, gas and mining industries, trade, transportation, finance, insurance and real estate and public administration. Sectors experiencing declines from last October were manufacturing and agriculture. Cline cited other indicators of a strong Saskatchewan economy noting, manufacturing shipments, natural gas and oil production, urban housing starts, international exports, retail sales, building permit values, retail sales and average weekly earnings are all up. Saskatchewan had the second lowest unemployment rate in Canada in October at 3.3 per cent (seasonally unadjusted), down 1.4 percentage points from October 2005 and well below the national rate of 5.6 per cent. This is the lowest unemployment rate for October in 27 years. Saskatoon had the third lowest unemployment rate among major Canadian cities at 3.9 per cent. Saskatchewan Labour Force statistics can be found online at www.stats.gov.sk.ca.-30-
For More Information, Contact:
| Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: 306-787-1691 Email: rellis@ir.gov.sk.ca |