Employers in Saskatchewan added 4,000 new jobs to the provincial economy in August, Statistics Canada reported Friday. It was the largest increase among the provinces, but the agency cautioned it partially offset losses from the previous month.
Compared to a year ago, there has been little change in the number of people employed in Saskatchewan. Where the difference is found is in the type of employment.
The provincial economy has shed 9,600 full-time jobs from August 2014 while adding 11,100 part-time jobs, according to Statistics Canada.
Last month, 1,700 new full-time jobs and 2,200 part-time jobs were added. Numbers may not add up due to rounding.
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The unemployment rate took a dip, declining 0.5 percentage points to 4.7 per cent in August, the lowest among the provinces.
Jeremy Harrison, the immigration, jobs, skills and training minister for the province, credited the private sector for creating more jobs.
“Small businesses in the province are more optimistic according to a recent poll by the Canadian Federation of Business (CFIB), they are creating jobs for Saskatchewan people, as well as creating growth that will help keep Saskatchewan strong,” he said in a release.
The opposition NDP said the government has missed an opportunity to strengthen and diversify the economy.
“It’s concerning to see a significant drop in the number of good, mortgage-paying full-time jobs here in our province, especially during a period when our neighbouring provinces have added a lot of full-time jobs,” stated NDP economy critic Trent Wotherspoon.
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Nationally, the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 7.0 per cent, while 12,000 jobs were added to company payrolls. Statistics Canada attributed the jump in unemployment to more people looking for work.
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