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P.A. unemployment rate holds steady in September

Oct 6, 2017 | 11:21 AM

According to the monthly data dump of labour numbers from Statistics Canada, the city’s unemployment rate is relatively unchanged.

Prince Albert’s unemployment rate sat at 10.2 per cent in September, up marginally from 10.1 in October but down from the July unemployment rate of 10.5.

Year-over-year, the city’s rate remains one percentage point higher. In September 2016, the unemployment rate was 9.1 per cent.

Provincially, Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 6.2 per cent, down from 6.4 last month and 6.9 per cent in September 2016.

According to the province, there were 1,600 full-time jobs created since September of last year, though part-time employment fell by 3,000, for a net employment decline of 1,400 jobs year-over-year.

Saskatoon’s unemployment rate fell slightly from 8.3 to 7.9 per cent, while Regina’s ticked up from 5.6 to 5.7 per cent.

Ontario, for the second straight month, was the only province with notable gains. Our neighbours to the West also saw their unemployment rate pull back from 8.1 to 7.9 per cent, while Manitoba saw its first decline since April 2016, shedding 5,500 jobs.

Nationally, employment was essentially unchanged, according to the federal agency, holding steady at 6.2 per cent, in line with the October 2008 low.

According to Stats Canada, from August to September, employment increased for people aged 55 and older while it fell among men aged 25 to 54. 

The numbers, overall, show the country’s year-over-year employment bloomed by 1.8 per cent.  This was the 10th straight month of growth for the country, the longest run since February 2008, fuelled heavily by full-time and public-sector work.

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr