Unemployment drops to 6 percent in July

August 07, 2026

Media Release, Immigration and Career Training, Government of Saskatchewan

Key points from this story:

• Unemployment rate 6.0 per cent
• Third lowest among provinces
• Below national average 6.4 per cent
• Year-to-date added 2,600 jobs
• Private sector added 10,300 jobs
• Construction added 4,600 jobs

Year-to-date Saskatchewan added 2,600 jobs, an increase of 0.4 per cent compared to the same period last year.

"Recently released numbers from Statistics Canada show that Saskatchewan's economy is strong," Immigration and Career Training Minister Eric Schmalz said. "Our government is committed to supporting employment training, workforce development and programs that help people find work. This ensures we have the labour force to support the economy of today and the future."

Strong growth in the private sector resulted in 10,300 jobs being added, an increase of 2.7 per cent from July 2025. This was reflected through gains in key sectors such as construction, which added 4,600 jobs, an increase of 9.1 per cent from last July. Major year-over-year gains were also reported for accommodation and food services, up 4,200 (plus 12.3 per cent); and finance, insurance, real estate and leasing, up 2,000 (plus 6.6 per cent).

Youth (aged 15-24) employment growth continued in July with 1,500 jobs added year-over-year, an increase of 1.6 per cent compared to last July. Core working age (aged 25-54) employment grew by 3,900 jobs, an increase of 1 per cent.

Saskatchewan's capital city also saw year-over-year growth. Compared to July 2025, Regina's employment was up 5,400, an increase of 3.5 per cent.

Saskatchewan continues to show economic growth in other areas. Saskatchewan ranked second amongst provinces for growth in urban housing starts and first amongst provinces for growth in manufacturing sales. Year-to-date, Saskatchewan also recorded the second highest growth in merchandise exports.

This economic growth is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan's Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, a roadmap to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan's strong and growing economy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan's Investment Attraction Strategy, a plan to increase investment in the province and to further advancing Saskatchewan's Growth plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.