Aboriginal Employment Numbers Not Looking Good

Aboriginal Employment Numbers Not Looking Good

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 14:27

A Saskatchewan cabinet minister says he’s aware a recent report paints a troubled picture for Aboriginal employment numbers in the province.

According to Statistics Canada, the employment rate of Aboriginal people between 25 and 54 years of age was around 20 per cent lower than the rest of the population.

However, Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris says the numbers taken in the survey were from 2004 to 2007, before his government came to power.

He stresses Aboriginal employment numbers were up in November and he expects that trend to continue.

Norris says his government is working to develop skilled labour in the province.

He says he’s aware of criticism that the government brings in out-of-province workers at the expense of Aboriginal residents who need to be put to work.

He counters that there are a lot of jobs to go around, and his government is committed to training as many First Nations and Metis workers as it can.