Sask creates 2,800 jobs, Canada loses 51,600 in August
September 10, 2018, 9:34 am
Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey report shows that full-time employment in Saskatchewan increased by 2,800 jobs in August 2018 compared to August 2017.
Employment increased by 1,400 jobs in Saskatchewan month-to-month (seasonally adjusted), compared to a loss of 51,600 jobs nationally. Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent (seasonally adjusted).
“Saskatchewan continues to grow, however we remain cautious of headwinds in the labour market created by the federal government,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said.
“Our economic growth continues to be put at risk by trade disputes, the job-killing Trudeau carbon tax, and the federal government’s inability to get a pipeline project built that they now own.”
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Other August highlights include:
Major year-over-year sector job gains were reported for health care and social assistance up 4,000 jobs; business, building and other support services up 2,900 jobs; and educational services up 2,500 jobs.
Employment in the private sector up 2,900 jobs year-over-year.
Female employment up 2,800 jobs year-over-year.
Youth employment up 800 jobs year-over-year.
Off-reserve Aboriginal employment up 800 jobs for five consecutive months of year-over-year increases.
Aboriginal youth employment in Saskatchewan is up 400 jobs for five consecutive months of year-over-year increases.
The provincial figures are in stark contrast to the national numbers, which show the Canadian economy lost 51,600 net jobs last month in a decrease that helped drive the national unemployment rate to six per cent, up from 5.8 per cent in Julyy.
The drop was fuelled by the loss of 92,000 part-time positions.
Ontario alone lost 80,100 jobs last month.
The Statistics Canada report also showed that average hourly wage growth, which is closely watched by the Bank of Canada ahead of rate decisions, continued its gradual slide last month to 2.9 per cent after expanding 3.2 per cent year over year in July and 3.6 per cent in June.
