The Saskatchewan government says job numbers released by Statistics Canada today show an increase of 5.6 per cent in job gains in February year-over-year. The unemployment rate fell in February to 4.7 per cent which is down from 5.5 per cent the month prior and down from from 7.3 per cent in February 2021, in the midst of the pandemic. The national average for February for the unemployment rate was 5.5 per cent.

Minister responsible Jeremy Harrison says Saskatchewan’s economy is on the right track, “With record agricultural and merchandise exports in 2021, and the strongest year-over-year growth in manufacturing sales and wholesale trade in Canada, opportunities abound for businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers in Saskatchewan.”

The government says major year-over-year gains were reported for wholesale and retail trade up 11,500 jobs, educational services up 6,000 jobs, and information, culture and recreation up 5,300.