Good And Bad News In Latest Aboriginal Job Numbers

Friday, January 07, 2011 at 13:31

December was a good month for Saskatchewan employment — especially for Aboriginal youth.

According to Statistics Canada, employment among First Nations and Metis youth rose by 2,000 over last December — a 33.9% increase.

But the provincial NDP is concerned with the overall yearly increase in unemployment for First Nations.

The New Democrats note the First Nations unemployment rate is actually on the rise — 7.2 percentage points over the last year — and is now at 24.3%.

The Opposition also says more than 3,000 jobs have been lost in forestry, fishing, mining and oil and gas this past year.

The province currently has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the country.