Saskatchewan Unemployment Rate Drops To 5.2 Per Cent

Released on December 3, 2021

10,100 New Jobs Gained

Today, job numbers released by Statistics Canada for November 2021 show Saskatchewan's unemployment rate fell to 5.2 per cent from 7.1 per cent a year ago, also down from 6.2 per cent a month ago, and well below the national average of 6.0 per cent (seasonally adjusted). 

Saskatchewan gained 10,100 jobs in November 2021 compared to the same period last year.  This represents an increase of 1.8 per cent.  Of these, 7,500 were full-time jobs.   

"Saskatchewan's economy continues to show strength with more jobs being created and the unemployment rate continuing to drop," Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said.  "We are also working to address the current labour shortages in certain sectors through funding for skills training programs, as well as the new Hard-to-Fill Skills Immigration Pilot in order to ensure this strength continues."

Off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up 6,300 jobs (+11.8 per cent) for 12 consecutive months of year-over-year increases - all of which were in full-time jobs.  Aboriginal youth employment was up 400 jobs (+4.6 per cent) for 8 consecutive months of year-over-year increases. 

Major year-over-year gains were reported for wholesale and retail trade up 11,100 jobs and health care and social assistance up 6,200 jobs. Over the same period, the private sector was up 7,200 jobs (+2.3 per cent), female employment increased by 7,200 jobs (+2.9 per cent), ahead of  male employment which grew by 0.9 per cent, and youth employment was up 4,300 jobs (+6.0 per cent). 

Saskatchewan's youth unemployment rate was 9.4 per cent, the third lowest among the provinces and well below the national average of 10.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted).

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