There was an improvement on the national front but in our wider region things remained unchanged. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

job numbers

Region static but big job gains on national level

Jan 10, 2020 | 12:28 PM

There are some positive numbers on the national job creation front although the rate for the large area in our region known as Prince Albert and the North remains unchanged.

Last month, Canada gained 35,200 full time jobs, with Ontario and Quebec leading the way. That moved the unemployment rate in the right direction, to 5.6 per cent, compared to 5.9 per cent in November when the country suffered the biggest monthly loss of jobs since the financial crisis.

For P.A. and the North, the rate was 5.7 per cent for December, or 6,100 people out of work. That figure remains largely the same as November, although the year-over-year picture is an improvement on the seven per cent from December of 2018.

Saskatchewan’s unemployment figures were worse despite the big national uptick.

The provincial jobless rate was up to 5.1 per cent compared to 4.9 per cent in November. An additional 900 people were out of work last month. However, Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate is still improved compared to December 2018, when it was at 5.3 per cent.

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With files from The Canadian Press

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow