REGINA – The opposition New Democrats have again pounced on the Sask Party after the province shed jobs again in May.
At a media availability at the Legislature, Opposition Jobs critic Aleana Young said Saskatchewan lost 6,100 jobs in May, on top of the 10,000 jobs that were lost the previous month. She pointed to 40,000 people out of work.
“Unemployment in Saskatchewan has risen to 6.2 per cent, the highest rate seen since the COVID-19 pandemic,” Young said.
“Now, of course, none of this is good news for the people of Saskatchewan. We meet so many people every day working hard to make ends meet, and they're still falling farther and farther behind."
Young pointed out other bad numbers. She noted youth unemployment has gone up to 13.2 per cent, and that Saskatchewan's merchandise exports were down 7.4 per cent year to date, even with increased revenues from oil prices.
She also pointed to retail sales down year to date and ranking third last in Canada, as well as Saskatchewan's population having declined for two straight quarters.
“All of this is happening while inflation reached a staggering 3.8 per cent last month,” said Young. “People are hurting, and as always, the Sask Party government is missing in action.”
As for how the NDP would address the situation, Young pointed to their focus on affordability, cost of living, and “keeping costs down for households, farms, and small businesses right across Saskatchewan.”
“We'll keep costs affordable, we'll invest in renewables, we'll create jobs, generate $33 billion of economic activity in the process. All of this can be done starting today in Saskatchewan.”
Young also spoke about what not to do to create jobs.
“We don't create jobs by creating the most expensive electricity grid in North America. We don't create jobs by doubling basic inputs on businesses, on exporters, on mining companies, on refineries and mills, like Scott Moe and the Sask Party are planning on doing. And we don't create jobs by ignoring the fact that we are seeing thousands of young people leave this province.”
The lost jobs for Saskatchewan comes at the same time that Canada posted gains of 88,000 jobs. Unemployment fell nationally to 6.6 per cent.
“Again, this month, we see unemployment across the country, nationally down, and it's up here in Saskatchewan,” Young said. She also claimed the government was clinging to “the status quo and would prefer to tell people that everything is fine.”
“We do not see any independent verification of anything these guys talk about, beyond them standing up time and time again and saying ‘we've got the best economy in the country,’ which is increasingly challenging for people to accept.”
In response the Sask Party government issued a statement in which they pointed to jobs numbers actually being up for the year to date.
"Saskatchewan has experienced more than five consecutive years of sustained employment growth, and the province remains ahead on a year-to-date basis, with 4,900 more people employed from January to May 2026 compared to the same period last year."
During this timeframe the government says they saw gains in construction which added 2,300 jobs, agriculture with 1,300 jobs, and Forestry, Fishing, Mining, Oil and Gas adding 700 jobs.
They also note that the sectors experiencing the largest declines are "also those most affected by broader national and international factors, pointing to manufacturing, educational services, accommodation and food services, and retail trade.
"While monthly labour force results can fluctuate, Saskatchewan remains well-positioned for future growth, supported by one of the strongest and most diversified economies in Canada," they stated.
