The job market in southwestern Saskatchewan made some major gains last month.

In a month's time, the unemployment rate in the region that includes Swift Current and Moose Jaw fell by 1.1 per cent to 3.8 per cent and is also down by a percentage point in a year-over-year comparison from October 2017.

The labour force shrunk by around 400 people from September to October but yet there were about 100 extra individuals employed, pushing the southwest's unemployment rate into the five lowest in the nation out of 66 regions.

Saskatchewan also made major gains with their unemployment rate dropping from 6.7 per cent to 6.1 per cent in a month, but that rate is still higher than the province's October 2017 rate of 5.8 per cent.

The national unemployment rate had a strong October compared to September and October 2017 as it dipped 0.2 per cent to rest at 5.8 per cent.