YORKTON - Recently a report from Statistics Canada suggested the Yorkton-Melville region had seen a loss of 7,900 in the past year.
The report according to a release from the office of Saskatchewan NDP Shadow Minister for Jobs and the Economy Aleana Young that the region of Yorkton and Melville has lost a total of 7,900 jobs, down 18.9 per cent or nearly one-in-five jobs in the region.
In an interview with Yorkton This Week Young noted the numbers are regional in nature, covering an area around Yorkton-Melville of roughly 82,000 population.
Regardless of the population area the number is a large one.
“These are (job) losses,” reminded Young.
The situation is one Young said the Saskatchewan Party government has to take much of the responsibility for, citing that Saskatchewan “is the second lowest in job creation” among all the provinces in Canada. She said in the Yorkton-Melville region there hasn’t been increased employment in the region in some six years.
Even among those with jobs Young said it’s not all positive.
“Nobody’s feeling better off than they were fives years ago,” she said.
The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce suggested locally at least staff are hard to find.
“The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce is aware that businesses are experiencing difficulties in finding employees,” said Chamber Executive Director Juanita Polegi.
Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle said the numbers are “quite interesting,” adding he has “a hard time believing the numbers,” at least in terms of the city.
“I feel the numbers aren’t indicative of what going on in Yorkton.”
While admitting the numbers warrant further investigation, and his asking some questions, Kienle he isn’t sure they warrant any drastic response as locally the situation appears fine.
A recent Saskatchewan government release also suggests job numbers are doing well.
Also citing Statistics Canada the release stated, that according to the latest labour force numbers, Saskatchewan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent, well below the national average of 6.8 per cent. The province also added 8,400 new jobs year-over-year in the month of November.
"Saskatchewan's economy remains strong, with 8,400 jobs added and the lowest unemployment rate in Canada," Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said in a release. "Opportunities provided by our growing economy and measures passed to ensure that the province remains the most affordable place to live, work and raise a family in Canada."
Year-over-year, full-time employment increased by 5,900, an increase of 1.2 per cent. Female employment is up 4,600 an increase of 1.7 per cent, and male employment is up 3,700, an increase of 1.2 per cent.
Major year-over-year gains were reported for health care and social assistance, up 11,700, an increase of 13.5 per cent; accommodation and food services, up 4,100, an increase of 13.6 per cent; and forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas, up 2,800, an increase of 14.1 per cent.
Polegi said the potential locally is also high.
“The Yorkton-Melville region certainly has great potential for economic growth,” she said. “The growing agri-food processing hub in Yorkton is testament to that. The Chamber believes that with a coordinated approach to marketing the benefits of establishing and growing a business in this region, and the reconstruction of Grain Millers Drive north of Yorkton, this region will continue to prosper.”
