Maple News reports that Saskatchewan led the country in employment growth at the close of 2021, marking a significant milestone for the province amid a volatile global economic climate.
According to the December Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan saw a 1.1% increase in employment from November to December 2021, adding 6,000 new jobs. This was the highest month-over-month job growth among all Canadian provinces during that period.
Full-time positions drove this growth, particularly in the professional, scientific, and technical services sectors. Employment gains were most notable among men aged 25 to 54. Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate stood at 5.4%, matching pre-pandemic levels in its major cities of Saskatoon and Regina.
The province also posted strong year-over-year gains. Between December 2020 and December 2021, Saskatchewan added 8,000 jobs in health care and social assistance, 7,400 in trade, and 4,700 in construction. The private sector saw significant activity, with an increase of 10,800 new jobs. Employment among women rose by 10,600, and youth employment grew by 7,700.
Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Immigration and Career Training, attributed the province’s performance to the resilience and determination of its workforce. “Despite facing global uncertainty in 2021, Saskatchewan consistently posted one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. That speaks volumes about our business climate and worker resilience,” said Harrison.
Nationwide, Canada added 55,000 jobs in December 2021, lowering the national unemployment rate to 5.9%, the lowest in 22 months. This trend aligns with broader signs of economic recovery across the country.
Encouragingly, recent immigrants are also benefiting from the improving job market. The number of very recent working-age immigrants (those who arrived within the past five years and are aged 25–54) surpassed pre-pandemic levels, increasing by 0.6% compared to two years earlier.
As Saskatchewan continues to position itself as a leader in economic recovery and workforce development, these figures underscore its growing appeal to new immigrants and professionals seeking stable employment opportunities in Canada.