More People Working in Saskatchewan Than Ever Before

Released on July 7, 2023

Province adds 3,300 jobs over last year, unemployment rate at 4.7 per cent

More people are working in the province than ever before with 604,700 people working today in Saskatchewan. Regina and Saskatoon are also seeing record levels of employment at 148,300 and 198,800, respectively.

Newly released labour force figures from Statistics Canada for June also show strong labour force growth in Saskatchewan with 3,300 new jobs when compared to June 2022, and 1,800 new jobs when compared to May 2023.

"Saskatchewan has seen more than two years of consistent job growth and has asserted itself as a province of growth and opportunity, adding nearly 8,000 new jobs since the start of 2023 alone," Minister of Immigration and Career Training Jeremy Harrison said. "Our government is looking to the future as the province sees exceptional labour participation rates and continued private capital investments, both of which are propelling Saskatchewan's continued growth."

The provincial seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 per cent ranked third among provinces, and below the national average of 5.4 per cent. 

June 2023 saw all-time historical highs (aged 15 and over), with:

• Saskatchewan's labour force reaching 623,200; 
• Saskatchewan's total employment reaching 604,700;  
• Saskatchewan's full-time employment reaching 503,200;
• Regina's employment reaching 148,300; and 
• Saskatoon's employment reaching 198,800.

Major year-over-year gains were reported for:

• Transportation and warehousing, up 5,000, representing an increase of 19.9 per cent;
• Business, building and other support services, up 3,300, representing an increase of 30.3 per cent, and;
• Professional, scientific and technical services, up 3,200, representing an increase of 10 per cent.

Saskatchewan has seen growth across several key indicators in recent months. The provincial population grew by 6,821 to 1,221,439 in the first quarter of 2023, and is the largest population increase in more than a century. Saskatchewan also led Canada in GDP growth last year at 5.7 per cent and is projected by the Conference Board of Canada to see strong provincial GDP growth of 2.5 per cent in 2023, and 1.9 per cent in 2024 while continuing to lead Canada.  When paired with record breaking exports of $52 billion globally, $29.3 billion to the United States, and 45 per cent increase to year-over-year wholesale trade in April, Saskatchewan continues to show healthy and robust provincial and economic growth. 

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