Southwest Saskatchewan's employment rates continue to remain amongst one of the top regions in the nation, even with a slight decrease in jobs this past month.

According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate for December in the Swift Current and Moose Jaw area rose to 3.5 per cent, an increase of 0.2 per cent from a year ago.

The southwest numbers helped Canada bolster its best employment numbers during the past four decades (since 1976) with the unemployment rate falling to 5.5 per cent nationally, down from last year's 6.4 per cent.

Provincially the unemployment rates continue to strengthen in year-over-year comparison to 5.6 per cent - a 0.6 per cent decrease.

The southwest region slipped into fourth place in the nation for its unemployment rate - a regression of one spot in a month's time, trailing only Chaudière-Appalaches, Qué. (2.0 per cent), Interlake, Man. (3.2 per cent), and South Central and North Central, Man. (3.4 per cent).

The area is composed of approximately 81,500 people representing a decrease of 400 since this time last year. Of the 52,100 in the labour force (2,800 lower than a year ago), 50,200 are working and 1,800 are listed as unemployed.

In a month-over-month comparison, the southwest corner of the province saw its unemployment rate increase by two percentage points since November's figures were released.