While Saskatchewan's unemployment rate has decreased from last summer, Moose Jaw's has actually increased slightly.
Moose Jaw's unemployment rate was up to 6.5 per cent in July 2009, compared to 5.9 per cent for the same 31-day period in 2008.
According to Statistics Canada figures released this week, in July 2009, 17,200 Moose Javians had jobs. In July 2008, 17,800 Moose Javians had jobs.
Brian Martynook, Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce executive director, said the local unemployment spike compared to the same time period last year is probably due to the closure of XL Beef in April and subsequent loss of 200 local jobs.
He added the chamber remains optimistic XL Beef will reopen in autumn, as it had planned, and the employment numbers can increase to previous levels.
Despite some job losses in July, Saskatchewan overall continues to post the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and is now the only province with more people working than a year ago, according to the latest labour force report released today by Statistics Canada.
Province-wide, there were 526,300 people working in Saskatchewan in July 2009 - an increase of 11,400 over July 2008. All other provinces lost jobs during that same 12-month period. Overall, there are 347,100 fewer Canadians working than a year ago.
Saskatchewan's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent is the lowest in Canada - well below the national unemployment rate of 8.6 per cent. Regina has the lowest unemployment rate among Canadian cities at 3.2 per cent while Saskatoon is second-lowest at 4.7 per cent.
In the Moose Jaw and Swift Current economic region, the July 2009 unemployment rate was four per cent. During the same time period last year, the unemployment rate was 3.5 per cent.
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
Unemployment rate in Moose Jaw: 6.5 per cent in July
Last July, rate was 5.9 per cent
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Comments
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- Joleen
- - September 18, 2009 at 14:53:46
Most buisnesses these days are very picky about who they hire. People complain that most aboriginals don't have jobs, but how can they get jobs when no one wants to hire them? Everyone should be able to have a chance to show that they can do it... not only because of their looks but you have to rememebr to look on the inside and get to know people before turning them down. I think the problem has to deal with racsism because now-a-days there are a lot of caucasion people who can get jobs so easily and then the rest of them dont need jobs because their families are wealthy. Then there are the aboriginals who are looking for jobs, i know a lot of people who want jobs and are looking and people just turn them down.
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- bigbamboo
- - September 18, 2009 at 14:53:41
NOT surprisingly unexpected!
When the city council's only priority over the last few years has been to get a multiplex built and not employment for its citizens then you get unemployment. I am sure that if some of the unemployed did not leave Moose Jaw as my son was forced to, the unemployment numbers would be much higher.
Its time to elect a municipal government that will make employment their number one priority. We need more good paying full time jobs and a local government that sets this as their priority. -
- B
- - September 18, 2009 at 14:51:57
JR, did you change your name? I detect shades of good ol' Clifford in your comment.
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- Art
- - September 18, 2009 at 14:48:45
Build it and they will come right.....
All of our attention over the past 5 years has been this multiplex (great we're getting it) and neglecting to discover opportunities for business in our community.
We have lost numerous large employers and now our jobless rate is proving where our community is heading. Let's be sure that as voters we really focus on key decisions this election and elect intelligent individuals who have a plan to grow our community and create opportunity for people to find jobs that pay well and contribute to our city's growth. -
- J
- - September 18, 2009 at 14:17:04
B from Moose Jaw, Sask. writes: JR, did you change your name? I detect shades of good ol' Clifford in your comment.
No I did not change my name. I am just pointing out the fact that our Mayor and his supporters have looked upon the building of the Multiplex to solve several problems Moose Jaw is facing such as a stagnant and declining population, higher than average Unemployment due to the loss of several hundred jobs and several large employers in the last five years and the Hospital's inability to attract quality professionals such as Doctors. The Multiplex is a great idea but it is being built in a poor location, with almost no onsite parking, and no lease signed by its' major tenant. It will not be as successful a facility as it could have been in a better location. It must be looked upon as a business venture and no business would locate where there was no space for their customers to park and no lease signed by prospective tenants. Having a Buy Local Policy would help as well when the City looks at tenders for goods and services.
I respect Clifford's blogs but I am not him. -
- Just a dude
- - September 18, 2009 at 13:41:32
17,800 - 17,200=600 Mr. Martynook, not 200 as you seem to think. Apparently math isn't a necessary skill in the Moose Jaw Chamber of Commerce.
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- J
- - September 18, 2009 at 13:15:51
Once the Multiplex construction gets going full speed the unemployment numbers will drop drastically in Moose Jaw. Mayor McBain said so when XL Beef closed. Just be Unexpectantly Suprised when it doesn't...
