Unemployment Rate Second Lowest Amongst Provinces at 5.4 Per Cent in September

CANADA, October 9 - Released on October 9, 2026

Statistics Canada's latest labour force numbers show that the labour market in Saskatchewan added 2,400 jobs year-over-year in September. Saskatchewan's unemployment rate is the second lowest amongst provinces at 5.4 per cent, well below the national average of 6.5 per cent. 

September saw a monthly record high for employment with 625,000 people working in Saskatchewan. 

"Saskatchewan's economy is strong and steady and the new labour market numbers from Statistics Canada reflect that strength," Immigration and Career Training Minister Eric Schmalz said. "Our government is working to ensure that economic growth continues by helping Saskatchewan people prepare for the jobs being created by our strong and steady economy." 

Youth unemployment also saw a decline to 11.4% from August, well below the national average of 13.0%. 

Saskatchewan's two biggest cities also saw year-over-year growth. Compared to September 2025, Saskatoon's employment was up 900, an increase of 0.4 per cent, and Regina's employment was up 5,300 an increase of 3.5 per cent.

Strong employment in the private sector resulted in an increase of 21,500 or +6.0 per cent compared to September 2025. This was reflected in the major year-over-year gains reported for manufacturing and construction with an additional 5,700 employed, an increase of 21.7 per cent and 5,700 employed, an increase of 11.8 per cent, respectively.   Healthcare and social assistance was also up 4,100, an increase of 4.0 per cent.

Saskatchewan continues to show economic growth in other areas. Year-over-year, Saskatchewan ranked first amongst provinces for growth in urban housing starts. In addition, month-over-month Saskatchewan ranked second for manufacturing sales and year-to-date recorded the second highest growth in merchandise exports. 

This economic growth is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan's Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, a roadmap to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan's strong and growing economy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan's Investment Attraction Strategy, a plan to increase investment in the province and to further advancing Saskatchewan's Growth plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.

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