(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

Jobs

Decline in P.A. jobless numbers

Nov 6, 2020 | 2:39 PM

The job numbers have improved slightly in Prince Albert and region although they continue to lag well behind the provincial rate.

According to the latest monthly figures from Statistics Canada, the city of Prince Albert had an unemployment rate of 7.4 per cent compared to nine per cent for September. In the much larger Prince Albert and Northern region the rate of joblessness was at 7.2 per cent for October compared to eight per cent the previous month.

Provincial numbers

Meanwhile, the provincial rate is now at 6.4 per cent, compared to the national rate of 8.9 per cent.

The Government of Saskatchewan noted for the third consecutive month, the province has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada.

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“In spite of all the significant challenges with the global COVID-19 pandemic, Saskatchewan people are getting back to work and our economy is recovering,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a media release. “With the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, we’re making headway in recovering and then growing our economy.”

Month-to-month, Saskatchewan’s seasonally adjusted employment rate decreased by 1,600, or -0.3 per cent. Year-over-year, Saskatchewan’s employment rate decreased by 19,400, or -3.3 per cent.

In the rest of Western Canada, other provinces have higher unemployment rates in October. Manitoba’s unemployment rate is 7.1 per cent, Alberta came in at 10.7 per cent, and British Columbia is at eight per cent.

October’s unemployment rate in Saskatchewan is down from 6.8 per cent posted in September.

National rate

Meanwhile, on the national level, the economy added just 83,600 jobs last month.

That’s down from a more robust increase of 378,000 in September and fewer than the 100,000 economists had predicted.

The jobless rate dipped from nine per cent to 8.9 per cent.

Statistics Canada says the national unemployment rate would have been 11.3 per cent if it had included the 540,000 Canadians who wanted to work last month but didn’t search for a job.

With files from The Canadian Press

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panews@jpbg.ca