Full-time job loss a growing problem in Saskatchewan

According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, 2017 started with close to 9000 fewer Saskatchewan people working a full-time job than just a month earlier. Compared to this time last year, the unemployment rate has risen to 7.1 per cent compared to 6.1 per cent and, despite more Saskatchewan people struggling to make ends meet with part-time jobs, there are 6,200 more Saskatchewan people looking for work than in January 2016.

“The numbers we’re seeing today show the tough reality that many families throughout the province are already facing. When you consider the Premier’s threats just days ago of more cuts and putting hundreds more mortgage-paying jobs at risk by floating the idea of selling-off the Crowns, this situation is all the more serious” said NDP Jobs, Skills, and Training Critic Warren McCall. “What the Premier and the Sask. Party have to realize and take responsibility for is that it was their mismanagement, scandal, and waste that led us all to this reality.”

While the majority of major cities across the country saw a decrease in their unemployment rate, Saskatoon’s rose to 7.6 per cent. Saskatoon’s year-over-year increase in the unemployment rate was second only to Calgary. Recently released Employment Insurance numbers underscore the difficulty for people in Saskatoon to find work with the number of people receiving EI jumping from 3,450 in 2015 to 5,300 in 2016.

“These job numbers are more proof that the Sask. Party needs to stop their callous cuts and threats of desperate sell-offs and start helping Saskatchewan people get back to work,” McCall said. “The people of the province should not have to pay for the Sask. Party’s mismanagement and failure to diversify and strengthen our economy and workforce even during the boom years.”

Another example of the Sask. Party’s failure to create jobs is shown clearly by a 3 per cent jump in the Aboriginal unemployment rate to 15.3 per cent from 12.3 percent last year. This number is worse for those living on reserve.

“The Sask. Party likes to talk about all they are doing but the facts speak much louder than their empty words,” said McCall.

Other sectors that saw significant year over year job losses:

4300 construction jobs lost
1800 jobs were lost in Forestry, Fishing, Mining, Oil and Gas lost
3900 were lost in Finance, Insurance, Real Estate
3200 jobs were cut in Health Care and Social Assistance
Accommodation and Food Services – industries that rely on tourism - lost 3900

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