HIGHEST SEPTEMBER EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS EVER

With record population, Saskatchewan reached an employment record for the month of September. There were 528,100 people working in Saskatchewan in September 2010, an increase of 6,300 over the same month last year.

"Last month Saskatchewan set an all-time population record," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "This month we set an all-time record for employment in the month of September. Those people are coming to Saskatchewan because they are confident in our economy and that prospects here are very good."

Norris said that Aboriginal employment continued its recovery with a September increase of 1,400 - the fifth consecutive month of increases.

At 5.5 per cent, Saskatchewan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is the second lowest in Canada, behind Manitoba, 5.4 per cent, and well below the national rate of 8.0 per cent.

Regina, 4.8 per cent, and Saskatoon, 5.5 per cent, continue to fare well among major Canadian cities, with the second and fourth lowest unemployment rates in the country. Regina continues to help fuel job growth in Saskatchewan, with a year-over-year increase of 8,200.

Norris also noted another strong contribution to employment growth made by 3,300 new jobs in Saskatchewan's private sector and 4,400 new entrepreneurs which accounted for 7,700 jobs.

"We know that we are not immune from what is going on around us, as Canadian and U.S. employment figures remain mixed," Norris said. "That said, we remain in an advantageous position. Our 19 Can-Sask Career and Employment Centres are available across the province to help people move into jobs, as there are more than 7,200 jobs available on saskjobs.ca right now."

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For more information, contact:

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