Saskatchewan saw mixed results from the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey.
The province had the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, dropping from 4.9 per cent to 4.1 per cent, though Stats Canada noted that was due to a drop in those looking for work.
The unemployment rate in Regina dropped to 4.3 per cent in September from 4.4 per cent the month before, while the rate in Saskatoon rose to 4.2 per cent from 3.9 per cent.
The Land of Living Skies also saw its labour force drop by 7,200 from August to September, with the province’s full-time employment rate falling by 5,600.
Though Premier Scott Moe celebrated the low unemployment in a Twitter post, Offical Opposition Leader Carla Beck said that government shouldn’t be padding itself on the back yet.
“We need provincial leadership that will roll up their sleeves, stop pointing fingers, take some responsibility and get to work stopping the provincial exodus of people to other provinces by fixing our public healthcare system and making Saskatchewan the best place to live and work in the country.”
Opposition Critic for Jobs and Economy Aleana Young said to see more people lose their jobs is devastating.
“At a time when so many people are struggling to put food on the table, pay their bills and fill the tank, this is devastating news for our province,” she said. “Meanwhile, Scott Moe is making life more expensive by hiking power and heating bills and moving forward with another round of tax hikes. It’s a bad time to be out of work in Saskatchewan.”
The NDP is calling on the Sask. Party to create a real plan to create good jobs in every sector with an all-of-the-above approach to job creation.
