According to Statistics Canada’s latest labour force survey, Saskatchewan lost approximately 6,100 jobs in May. StatsCan says despite the decline last month, employment in the province was little changed compared to the same time a year ago. The unemployment rate went up 0.6 per cent over the month prior and sits at 6.2 per cent.

The NDP says the 6.2 per cent is the highest rate of unemployment seen since the COVID-19 pandemic and Shadow Minister for Jobs, Economy & SaskPower, Aleana Young, says, “The wheels have really come off the Saskatchewan economy.”

In contrast, our neighbours in Alberta saw an increase in employment, month over month, with 14,000 more people working in May. And compared to a year prior employment was up by 104,000 or a 4.1 per cent increase.