The latest figures from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey showed Saskatchewan had the lowest unemployment rate in the country, complete with an increase in employment, bucking the trend seen across much of the country. 

The numbers, which have been seasonally adjusted, showed there were 9,500 more people working in Saskatchewan in April compared to March. There were 1,500 more people working full-time, and 8,000 more working part-time. Year-over-year the province has seen 58,500 people enter or return to the workforce, bringing the province closer to the pre-pandemic employment levels seen in February of 2020.  

The increase in the number of people working saw Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate fall, going from 7.3 percent to 6.6 percent.  

Nationally, the economy lost 207,000 jobs, primarily due to tougher public health orders implemented to combat the spread of COVID-19. This included a province-wide stay-at-home order in Ontario, a set of circuit-breaker restrictions in British Columbia and stricter measures in many parts of Quebec. As a result of the job losses, the national unemployment rate went up from 7.5 percent to 8.1 percent.