Southwest Saskatchewan's employment numbers are on the rise, and so was the unemployment rate remains close to the same. 

1,300 people joined the labour force, causing the employment rate to increase by 1.9 per cent. 

Despite those increases, the unemployment rate remained steady, increasing from 4.9 per cent in August of 2018 to 5.0 per cent in August of this year. 

Though the Swift Current-Moose Jaw region saw the rate increase, it still has the lowest unemployment rate compared to the other regions in the province. 

Provincially Saskatchewan saw its unemployment drop to 5.6 per cent compared to 6.7 per cent last year, and Canada saw its unemployment rate also drop from 6.1 per cent to 5.8 per cent. 

Full-time employment increased by 4,300 jobs and part-time employment increased by 8,800 jobs in the province marking the 13th consecutive month of year-over-year job increases. Month-to-month employment also rose by 2,800 jobs from July 2019.  

Other August highlights include all-time records were set in August for the working-age population (890,200), the labour force (625,700). Major year-over-year gains were reported for accommodation and food services up 4,400 jobs; manufacturing up 3,400 jobs; professional, scientific and technical services up 3,200 jobs and private-sector jobs up 6,200 (+1.8 per cent).