Saskatchewan's overheated Labour Market

Saskatchewan's booming economy was creating jobs for women, youth, aboriginals and workers over 60 at a faster rate than the labour force as a whole last year.

For example, the number of women participating in the workforce increased by 3.5 per cent in 2006 -- more than three times the growth of the provincial labour force.

Similarly, off-reserve aboriginals saw a 12-per-cent increase in employment last year, while youth unemployment dropped from 10.1 per cent in 2005 to 8.6 per cent in 2006.

But the largest increase in employment was in the 60-64 age group at 12.1 per cent, followed by workers over 70 years of age, who saw a six-per-cent increase in employment last year.

These are the results of a Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan survey. This makes the option of foreign recruitment that much more attractive.