NDP Caucus

Unemployment increase tarnishes overall job picture in Sask.

Posted: July 6, 2012 | E-mail this to a friend | Print view

The number of people unemployed in Saskatchewan increased by 1,700 to 25,600 last month, according to the latest job numbers released by Statistics Canada this morning. This number includes only those who actively looked for work in the past month.

"While we welcome the good aspects of today's jobs report, the increasing unemployment we have seen is a pretty big blemish on the overall picture," NDP Advanced Education and Employment critic Cam Broten said. "When 25,600 people are actively looking for jobs but unable to secure any, that ought to concern the provincial government."

Sectors that experienced significant job loss over the last year included: finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (-1,300 jobs); agriculture (-1,100 jobs); accommodation and food services (-800 jobs); and professional, scientific and technical services (-600 jobs).

"After two years of almost stagnant job growth in the province, we have been pleased to see modest gains in recent months," Broten said. "But when key sectors are losing jobs and when year-over-year unemployment is up at the same time, it certainly causes me to wonder how much better things could be in Saskatchewan had the Sask. Party not scrapped important job training and employment development programs."

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