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By paNOW Staff

job stats

Job numbers growing in Sask overall; NDP says northern economy is being ignored

Jan 10, 2025 | 1:47 PM

There were 14,000 jobs created in Saskatchewan in 2024 and the province had the third lowest unemployment rate among provinces, but the Sask NDP is throwing caution at the numbers, suggesting they don’t paint an entirely clear picture, particularly in Prince Albert and areas to the north.

Statistics Canada’s recently released labour force stats show Saskatchewan’s labour market remained strong with more jobs than ever before; 606,200 people were employed which is an all-time record high. The annual unemployment rate was 5.5 per cent, below the national average of 6.7 per cent.

“Saskatchewan is experiencing significant job growth, which is a direct result of the confidence job creators have in our economy,” Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said in a new release. “The opportunities being created by a strong economy means more people are living and working in Saskatchewan than ever before. That is why we are focused on growing access to health care and educational spaces for Saskatchewan people to ensure that our province remains the best place to live, work and raise a family in Canada.”

Major year-over-year job gains were reported in health care and social assistance, up 11,200 or 12.7 per cent, along with construction, which saw a gain of 6,000 or 14.3 per cent. Additionally, forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas saw a gain of 2,500 or 12.1 per cent.

The province said the growth Saskatchewan faced is backed by the Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, a roadmap to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan’s strong and growing economy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy, a plan to increase investment in the province and to further advance Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.

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But when taking a look at the December job numbers for Prince Albert and the northern economic area of the province, the opposition party pointed to 700 jobs lost last month. Overall, they said there are 1,100 fewer jobs in the region since Scott Moe became premier in February of 2018.

“This isn’t just a bad month for the region. If you look at the Sask. Party’s record, they have consistently ignored Prince Albert and the North’s economic potential,” said Aleana Young, Shadow Minister for Jobs and the Economy. “It’s time to recognize the opportunity we have in our communities and work with job creators on the ground to create that economic prosperity that all Northerners deserve.”

The NDP called for a ‘Made-in-Saskatchewan’ strategy that would prioritize Saskatchewan workers, businesses and manufacturing, especially as the threat of a potential 25 per cent tariff incoming from the Trump administration looms.

“When you invest in Saskatchewan workers and businesses, you see the result across the region. People take that money and invest it locally, building even more opportunity,” Young said.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com