ANOTHER ALL-TIME HIGH IN JUNE

There were 548,900 people working in Saskatchewan in June 2012, the highest ever on record for the second straight month. There were 11,700 more people working in the province in June when compared to a year ago.

Saskatchewan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent in June, the second lowest in the country and well below the national average of 7.2 per cent.

"More people working speaks to the strength of the provincial economy," Advanced Education Minister Don Morgan said, on behalf of Economy Minister Bill Boyd. "Wages are rising, population is increasing, business confidence is up and our economy continues to move forward at a steady pace."

Other highlights from the report include:

• The labour force reached an all-time high of 547,400.
• Employment has increased year-over-year for seven months in a row.
• Saskatchewan's growth rate was 2.2 per cent, the fourth highest among the provinces.
• Saskatoon's employment was up by 5,000 and Regina's employment was up by 3,300.
• Off-reserve Aboriginal employment was up by 300, the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year increases.
• Youth seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.9 per cent was the lowest in the country.
• Regina's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.0 per cent was the lowest among CMAs.

Morgan was at JNE Welding in Saskatoon today to make remarks. JNE Welding is one of Saskatchewan's largest full-service fabricators. The company provides services to the mining, environmental, construction, oil sand and power-generating sectors of Canada and the United States.

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For more information, contact:

Deb Young
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6315
Email: deb.young@enterprisesask.ca