The latest job data from Statistics Canada was released Friday morning, and it showed the unemployment rate in southeast Saskatchewan was down in September, despite fewer people working in the region.
The Regina-Moose Mountain Economic Region, which includes Weyburn and Estevan, had an unemployment rate of 5.9 per cent in September. This was down slightly from 6.1 per cent in August. Despite the drop, 1600 fewer people were working in the region, primarily in Regina.
The drop in employment was accompanied by a drop of 2300 people who were part of the labour force; that is people who are either employed, or unemployed and actively seeking employment. This resulted in the participation rate – the percentage of the population who is employed or unemployed and actively seeking employment – also falling in September, going from 68.8 per cent to 67.7 per cent.
Provincially, the unemployment rate in September was up slightly, going from 5.4 per cent to 5.7 per cent. The increase in the unemployment rate came with 4600 more people being in the labour force, but only 2300 more people working. The majority of the new employment in Saskatchewan in September was part-time employment.
Nationally, the unemployment rate was down to 6.5 per cent on the strength of 47,000 new jobs. Most of the gains came from youth, and women aged 25 to 54.