The unemployment rate in southeast Saskatchewan was down in December, according to the most recent numbers released by Statistics Canada.  

The Labour Force Survey for December, which was compiled the week of December 5th to 11th, showed the unemployment rate for the economic region of Regina-Moose Mountain, which includes Weyburn, Estevan, Regina and surrounding communities, moved from 4.9 percent to 4.6 percent. This is the fourth consecutive month the unemployment rate in the region has moved down. 

Provincially, the unemployment rate was slightly up, going from 5.2 to 5.4 percent. This, despite 8,000 more full-time jobs in the province. The current unemployment rate is the fourth lowest in the country, behind Manitoba, British Columbia and Quebec. 

The unemployment rate at the national level was down slightly, slipping from 6.0 percent to 5.9 percent. Statistics Canada stated the nation added 55,000 jobs overall in the country, well above what was being estimated by analysts.