Off-Reserve Aboriginal Employment Numbers Dip

Off-Reserve Aboriginal Employment Numbers Dip

Friday, August 22, 2008 at 14:28

A Statistics Canada analyst says the recent drop in employment levels in Saskatchewan’s off-reserve Aboriginal population is likely due to people choosing to leave the workforce.

From June 2007 to June 2008, the rate dropped 5.3 per cent — after increasing 3.6 per cent from June 2006 to June 2007.

But Danielle Zietsma says there wasn’t a corresponding increase in the unemployment rate — so she suspects people are choosing to stop working to pursue schooling, take care of children or to retire.

She also says the numbers might not be completely accurate because it’s just a sample.

Statistics Canada doesn’t track employment levels on reserves.