The latest labour force numbers from Statistics Canada show that in spite of US and Chinese tariffs, Saskatchewan continues to have the strongest labour market in Canada.
Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate among provinces at 4.9 per cent, which is well below the national average of 6.9 per cent. Saskatchewan added 20,500 jobs year-over-year in June.
“Saskatchewan heads into the second half of 2025 with the strongest labour market in Canada,” Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said. “Our government is committed to maintaining this continued growth ensuring that Saskatchewan people are prepared for the jobs provided by our strong economy.”
June 2025 saw all time historical highs (aged 15 and over), with:
- Saskatchewan Employment: 636,800
- Saskatchewan Full-Time employment: 533,800
- Off-Reserve Indigenous Employment: 67,900
- Off-Reserve Indigenous Full-Time Employment: 56,500
Year-over-year, full time employment increased 26,300, an increase of 5.2 per cent. Off-reserve Indigenous employment was up 6,300, or 10.2 per cent, for the 12th consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Indigenous youth employment was up 2,200, or 21.8 per cent, for the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Women employment is up 13,200 which is an increase of 4.6 per cent, and employment for men is up 7,300 an increase of 2.2 per cent.
Saskatchewan’s two biggest cities saw impressive year-over-year growth. Compared to June 2024, Saskatoon’s employment was up 7,600, an increase of 3.8 per cent, and Regina’s employment was up 6,400, an increase of 4.4 per cent. Regina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent, the fifth lowest among 41 major cities in Canada, and Saskatoon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 per cent, ranked fourth lowest among major cities.
Major year-over-year gains were reported for healthcare and social assistance, up 11,800, which is an increase of 12.7 per cent. Construction is up 6,500, an increase of 14.5 per cent and public administration is up 5,000, an increase of 13.6 per cent.
The province continues to see economic growth in other areas. Year-over-year, Saskatchewan ranked 1st among the provinces for growth in the value of building permits an increase of 31.5 per cent and 2nd amongst the provinces for growth in urban housing starts, a significant increase of 211.0 per cent.
This economic growth is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan’s recently released 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.
MINIMUM WAGE
On a related note, minimum wage in Saskatchewan will increase to $15.35 per hour on October 1, 2025.
Saskatchewan’s minimum wage is calculated using an indexation formula, which gives equal weight to changes to the Consumer Price Index and Average Hourly Wage for Saskatchewan.
“By raising the minimum wage, we are continuing to support workers and deliver on our commitment to affordability,” Reiter said. “Saskatchewan’s low personal tax rates continue to make our province a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
In 2022, the Government of Saskatchewan indicated it would make incremental increases to minimum wage which resulted in a 27 per cent increase from $11.81 per hour to $15 per hour by 2024. With that commitment having been met, the indexation formula is again in place.
In addition to indexation, the 2025-26 Budget delivered on 13 affordability commitments which included reducing income taxes for every resident, family and small business in our province.