After another significant year-over-year decrease in Employment Insurance (EI) beneficiaries, Saskatchewan continues to fare well when compared to the rest of Canada. On a per capita basis, Saskatchewan had the fewest number of people receiving EI benefits in Canada (1.9 per cent) for the fifth straight month, followed by Alberta and Manitoba (2.0 per cent).
"With the worst of the economic slowdown behind us, Saskatchewan has remained the best place in Canada to weather the storm," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "We are well into the recovery with the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and more people working in Saskatchewan than a year ago."
In April 2010, there were 12,570 EI beneficiaries receiving regular EI benefits in Saskatchewan, which is 840 fewer people on the EI rolls compared to April 2009.
Month-to-month, Saskatchewan recorded a decrease of 140 (-1.1 per cent). The national average was -0.1 per cent.
"Although our numbers continue to be promising, we are acutely aware of those employers and workers who have been affected by recent economic challenges, and we are responding," Norris said. "Our Canada-Saskatchewan Rapid Response Teams are working with employers and workers to provide access to programs and services that support training and new career options.
"There are fewer people receiving EI benefits, and there are still thousands of job opportunities in Saskatchewan," Norris said. "As of this morning, the SaskJobs.ca website has more than 6,200 job vacancies posted in every corner of the province."
