RECORD EMPLOYMENT ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBERS TO SASKJOBS

Website's popularity doubles in just two years

Record numbers of job seekers from across Canada and around the world are looking to Saskatchewan's strong and steady economy for opportunities.

On June 7, 2009, just 158 days into the year, the province's job-matching website, www.saskjobs.ca, reached three million visits. This compares to 267 days last year and 329 days in 2007.

"Last month, Saskatchewan recorded its highest ever employment levels and 38th consecutive month of employment growth," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "With good reason, more people than ever are looking to our province as a place of opportunity."

Visits to saskjobs.ca from outside Saskatchewan has increased dramatically over a year ago, with visits from Ontario up a remarkable 262 per cent over this time last year. Alberta is also up 101 per cent, with B.C. up 198 per cent. Visits from outside Canada have increased by 87 per cent.

"Our government has long said that Saskatchewan is not immune to the effects of the global recession," Norris said. "But with our aggressive investments in infrastructure and the creation of the Can-Sask Rapid Response Teams, we have taken tangible steps to reduce the severity and duration of those effects."

Norris noted the recent Business Barometer Index from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which stated that confidence among small and medium-sized businesses in Saskatchewan has the highest levels of optimism in Canada, as an indicator of continued employment prospects.

"With more than 6,500 opportunities on the saskjobs website today, Saskatchewan continues to be the place to be in Canada for job seekers," Norris said.

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For more information, contact:

Christopher Jones-Bonk
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3106
Email: chris.jones-bonk@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-531-4904