The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show that there were 6,200 fewer people working in June compared to the same time last year. The unemployment rate has grown to 6.1 per cent compared to 4.7 per cent last June and, while there are 7,000 more people calling Saskatchewan home than a year ago, there are 9,000 fewer jobs in the province to go around.
“These numbers show signs that Saskatchewan’s economy is slowing and that it’s getting harder and harder for people to find work,” said Regina Lakeview MLA Carla Beck. “These numbers make it clear that the Sask. Party's stubborn refusal to diversify the economy has left them with no plan to get Saskatchewan people back to work.”
In just the last month, 1,000 more people have been forced into the unemployment line, bringing the total number of unemployed people in the province to 37,000 compared to 28,000 a year ago.
The Sask. Party’s failure in job creation is particularly worrisome in the context of ongoing cuts to classrooms, job losses in the resource sector, and alarming and consistently high unemployment rates in First Nations and Métis communities.
“There are thousands of people in this province looking for work, and thousands of good, mortgage-paying jobs have been lost, but still, the Sask. Party refuses to take the situation seriously or admit they need a new strategy,” Beck said. “It’s time for the Sask. Party to change course and start helping to create jobs and get Saskatchewan people back to work.”