SASKATOON — The government and the Opposition have painted different pictures of the province’s labour market, with the former boasting of an annual job growth while the latter highlighting a decline in job opportunities, especially for young people.
Martensville MLA Terry Jensen, who was standing in for Immigration and Career Training Minister Eric Schmalz, said the province enjoyed a strong labour market in 2025, with an unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent, down from 5.4 per cent in 2024.
“In fact, Saskatchewan is the only province to experience a decline in our annual unemployment rate. We saw record job growth, consistently low unemployment rates, and gains in key sectors in 2025,” said Jensen in a media event on Friday, Jan. 9, at the SaskJobs’ Saskatoon office.
He added that 15,200 jobs were added to the province’s labour market, a 2.5 per cent increase from 2024, with over 4,000 new positions created, up by 2.0 per cent, while in Regina employment went up 6,5000 or an increase of 4.5 per cent.
The government said the province had the highest employment rate at 63.9 per cent and the second-highest labour force participation amongst provinces at 67.4 per cent. Health care and social assistance (9,000), construction (5,000), and agriculture (1,600) were the industries that saw the job gains.
Jensen said that healthcare and human services were among the sectors in which the government has implemented an ambitious human resources action plan to ease pressure on the province’s healthcare facilities, and where they are seeing the number of positions filled increasing.
“There are positions that are unfilled right now, yes, but the [Saskatchewan Health Authority] and the Ministry of Health are working hard to fill those positions the best they can. Plans are afoot to look at some innovative ways to deliver healthcare and make things better for Saskatchewan people,” he said.
The Opposition, however, downplayed the government's numbers, highlighting that the province's unemployment rate was 6.5 per cent in December and that youth unemployment was 15 per cent, as proof that young people are struggling to find work.
The Saskatchewan NDP cited the latest Statistics Canada report, which showed total unemployment in the province dropped to 4,000 last month, down four per cent from November, and emphasized that 15 per cent of the 15 to 24-year-old demographic is unemployed.
Jobs and Economy Critic Aleana Young said the government failed to grow the economy, noting the number of unemployed people rose by nearly 6,000 to more than 42,000 individuals actively looking for work. She also linked employment challenges to rising power rates and taxes.
In response, the government stressed that Saskatchewan remains below the national unemployment rate and continues to attract investment, with Jensen citing global economic uncertainty, online retail trends, and concerns about tariffs as influencing short-term employment numbers.
An employment counsellor’s perspective
Jensen said that the data the government presented is a blend of those who have just arrived in the country and chosen to settle in Saskatchewan, and of people who have already been living in the province for a long time or who have recently moved here.
For newcomers, the Saskatoon Open Door Society is one of the local groups that helps them find jobs based on their skills, knowledge, experience, and educational background. One of their services is assisting newcomers in creating a resume tailored to the job they seek.
Vicky Angua, the Team Lead of SODS’ Employment Services Unit, told SaskToday that organizations like theirs have seen significant labour growth in Saskatchewan over the past year, as the current employment landscape is one of high demand.
However, she added that it presents unique navigation challenges for newcomers. She noted that the 15,000 employment growth in the province is reflected differently for clients who sought assistance from the SODS’ ESU.
She said that, based on their records, they tracked 600 hires among the over 1,500 job-seeking clients they assisted last year, with 60 per cent of those positions ranging from entry-level to high-paying professional roles.
“We are seeing strong placement rates in high-growth areas like healthcare, construction, customer service, and hospitality. To meet this demand, we provided skills-based training, such as QuickBooks and service-industry certifications, to over 700 clients last year to improve their employability,” said Angua.
She added that their WEconnect Job Fair last year hosted 38 employers with 1,000 attendees, posted 2,019 positions through SODS’ Job Board from 75 different employers, and 14 Employer Showcases attracted over 1,200 registrants.
Angua said that, despite these successes, the local job landscape still presents hurdles, with highly skilled and qualified newcomers taking entry-level roles. At the same time, they work on their provincial licensures or wait for credential recognition in their previous professions.
“In short, the opportunities are there, but a newcomer's path to a career often requires more specialized support and training than it does for a local worker,” she ended.
