Statistics Canada reports the job gains were driven by full-time employment, with the strongest employment growth in accommodation and food services. In Saskatchewan employment in accommodation and food services actually dropped with a 3.7 per cent decrease year over year.

Stats Can says nationally there was a one tenth of a point increase from January and Canada’s employment rate rose to 5.8 per cent. Employment increased in Alberta by 0.7 per cent and Nova Scotia saw a 1.2 per cent gain while it dropped by 0.7 percent in Manitoba. There was little change in the other provinces including Saskatchewan where employment, month over month and seasonally adjusted rose 0.4 per cent. Year over year the increase was 2.5 per cent.

Provincially employment in the natural resources sector was up 1 per cent month over month but February 2024 compared to the same month last year, the sector saw a 7.1 per cent decrease. Transportation and warehousing saw a month to month increase of 7.9 per cent. Business, building and other support services saw a 10.3 per cent increase between January and February but there was a 33.3 per cent increase between February this year and the same time last year.

Economists suggest the labour market is cooling impacted by significant gains in population.