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Saskatchewan led the country in job growth last month and posted the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, according to new labour force figures released Friday by Statistics Canada.
The province added 21,100 jobs year-over-year in April, an increase of 3.6 per cent—the highest percentage increase among provinces. Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate sat at 4.3 per cent, well below the national average of 6.9 per cent.
"Saskatchewan is an economic leader in Canada, demonstrated by the 21,000 jobs we added in April and the lowest unemployment rate in the nation," said Jim Reiter, the province’s deputy premier and minister of immigration and career training.
"Our government is ensuring that our labour market remains strong, our economy continues to grow and that Saskatchewan remains the best and most affordable place to live, work and raise a family in Canada," he said in a statement.
Most of the gains came from full-time positions, which increased by 14,800, or 3.1 per cent compared to the same month last year. Part-time employment also rose, up 6,300 jobs for a 5.9 per cent increase.
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Saskatchewan’s two largest cities reported job gains as well. Saskatoon added 6,600 jobs, a 3.4 per cent increase, while Regina added 4,600 jobs, up 3.2 per cent from a year earlier.
Several industries saw significant year-over-year growth. Employment in health care and social assistance was up 8,900 jobs, or 9.8 per cent. Construction jobs rose by 4,900, an increase of 12.6 per cent, while public administration added 6,600 jobs, jumping 19.2 per cent.
The province’s economic momentum extended beyond employment. Statistics Canada reported Saskatchewan’s real gross domestic product rose 3.4 per cent from 2023 to 2024, placing it second among provinces and more than double the national growth rate of 1.6 per cent. Real GDP reached an all-time high of $80.5 billion, up from $77.9 billion the previous year, marking the second-highest per capita GDP among provinces.
The province says the growth is supported by two recent strategies: Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, aimed at workforce development, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy.