The unemployment rate in Saskatchewan inched up in July.
Statistics Canada reported Friday that the unemployment rate in the province was 6.3 per cent, an increase of 0.2 percentage points from the previous month.
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There were 500 less people working in July, with all the losses in part-time work. One-hundred new full-time jobs were added during the month.
“So unemployment rate is generally rising, but when you look through the numbers we have this positive trend, which I find very encouraging,” University of Regina economics professor Samuel Gamtessa said.
He added that in his opinion the positive movement on full–time work means a “not bad” overall report.
On a year-over–year basis, Saskatchewan saw an 800 job increase, while Alberta lost 59,300 since July 2015.
Gamtessa said Saskatchewan is faring better than its western cousin due to a more diverse economy.
Some Saskatchewan-based employers have seen more Albertans looking for work, like Regina’s Dynamic Roofing and Exteriors.
“It comes and goes, especially how Alberta’s economy does fluctuate up and down. You do see a spike and then a little bit less, but this year has been a pretty much constant flow of applicants,” Dynamic Roofing owner Dallas Huber said.
In Saskatoon, the rate dropped to 6.1 per cent from 6.6 per cent the previous month, while in Regina, the rate was down 0.1 percentage points to 5.5 per cent.
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Nationally, the unemployment rate was 6.9 per cent, up from 6.8 per cent the previous month.