New numbers released by Statistics Canada, show job growth in Saskatchewan off to a good start in 2023, compared with January of last year.

The province saw 16,400 new jobs last month, a 2.9 per cent increase over January of 2022.

Saskatchewan also saw record highs last month, with the total provincial labour force reaching 606,300, total employment in the province reaching 578,600, and total full-time employment coming in at 466,600.

Last month, there were 4,700 new full-time jobs and 11,500 new part-time jobs created in the province.

As well, the province’s youth population rose by 3,200, while youth employment last month was up 1.9 per cent over the same time last year.

In addition, off-reserve Indigenous employment was up 4.4 per cent, while Indigenous youth employment rose by 25.3 per cent.

The province’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January was 4.3 per cent, third lowest in the country, and below the national average of five per cent.