Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate reached 7.1 per cent in January, driven by a major dip in full-time jobs.
According to Statistics Canada data released Friday, the province shed 8,800 full-time positions since the last reporting period, in December.
The losses were compensated by a smaller gain in part-time employment, which grew by about 4,400 positions.
An overall drop in employment is common just after the Christmas rush. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate actually remained stable, decreasing by a tenth of a point to 6.4 per cent.
But year-on-year figures are still bleak: Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate is a full point higher than the January 2016 figure, and more than two points higher than it was two years ago. Compared to this time last year, there are almost 7,000 fewer people working in full-time jobs.
For more on this story, please see the Feb. 11 print or e-edition of the Prince Albert Daily Herald.
