Sask. Party and NDP offer competing positions on new employment figures

The Sask. Party and the NDP are weighing economic issues less than three months before voters go to the polls.

According to the latest jobs report from Stats Canada, Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate of all provinces, at 5.4 per cent, and the second highest annual job growth, at 3.9 per cent.

“It means there is a real opportunity to build your family, build your business, grow your business and expand your opportunities and build your career here in Saskatchewan,” said Immigration and Vocational Training Minister Jeremy Harrison, who said the numbers were undeniably positive for the province.

Saskatchewan made progress on all fronts, with Harrison highlighting annual job growth for women, youth and Indigenous people, and growth in the province’s two largest cities.

“Regina has almost 3,000 new jobs and Saskatoon is showing incredible job growth. Almost 8,000 jobs created in Saskatoon over the course of the past year,” Harrison said.

Seasonally adjusted figures show Saskatchewan experienced year-over-year employment growth of 4.2 percent, with the labor force growing to 645,000.

But the NDP says the employment numbers may not be as great as they seem.

Jobs and economics critic Aleana Young says Saskatchewan has had the second-worst job growth record in the country under Premier Scott Moe.

“Scott Moe has the second-worst job creation record in the country. Period,” Young said in a statement to CTV News.

“Every province but one has added jobs at a faster rate than Saskatchewan since Scott Moe took office. As percentages, Saskatchewan’s full-time employment and total employment grew by only 8.2 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively, during Scott Moe’s tenure as premier — again the second-worst province.”

Young said the NDP would put Saskatchewan workers and businesses first to improve employment.

A recent poll shows that health care, inflation and the economy are the three most important issues on many voters’ minds ahead of the fall elections.