SASKATCHEWAN CONTINUES TO HAVE STRONG ECONOMIC NUMBERS

Two leading economic forecasts predict Saskatchewan will have further growth in 2008. RBC Financial Group and TD Economics both forecast Saskatchewan to have the strongest economic growth in Canada in 2008, with a growth rate around 3.5 per cent. A spokesperson with RBC notes that Saskatchewan's diverse economy is well-positioned to withstand any potential downturn in the U.S.

"While these types of predictions are welcome news, our government believes we can do better," Premier Brad Wall said. "Saskatchewan's economy is strong and our government is working hard to make sure it gets even stronger. We want more job opportunities and to ensure our economic growth benefits all Saskatchewan people."

Saskatchewan began 2008 by setting another new job record. There were 496,000 people working in Saskatchewan in January - the most ever for that month and 2,600 more than last year. There were 5,100 more full-time jobs than in January 2007.

The new employment figures build on a number of job creation records Saskatchewan set in 2007. Last year saw more people than ever before working in the province and the biggest jump in income in the country, with the average worker seeing his or her income increase by 6.9 per cent.

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For more information, contact:

Gladys Wasylenchuk
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4156