TrendLine Saskatchewan

 

TrendLine Saskatchewan - October 2025

Employment growth (2.7%) in August driven by employment in Agriculture, Resource Extraction, Utilities, Construction, Educational Services, Health Care, and Public Administration

  • YTD provincial employment up 2.7%
  • YTD Housing starts up 47.6%
  • Building permits up 23.2%
Stephen Johnson

MA
Chief Economist

Saskatchewan’s economy in 2025 showed steady but uneven growth across sectors. Year-to-date employment rose 2.7% (15,989 positions) in September compared to 2024, driven largely by full-time job gains in health care, construction, and public administration, while employment fell in manufacturing, trade, and professional services. The unemployment rate declined from 5.6% to 5.2%, with the Regina-Moose Mountain region posting the highest job growth (4.3%) and Swift Current-Moose Jaw the lowest unemployment (3.6%). Housing activity surged, with starts up 47.7% and the benchmark housing price rising 7% to $359,186. Inflation remained moderate at 1.7%, led by higher food, shelter, and recreation costs. Building permits increased 21.1%, but international merchandise exports fell 4.6% amid declines in energy and resource products. Retail trade grew 4.6%, manufacturing sales fell 5.9%, and wholesale trade contracted 4.9%, though vehicle sales jumped 14.5%. Average weekly earnings rose 4.7%, supported by strong gains in resource, finance, and real estate industries. Restaurant receipts climbed 6.9%, reflecting solid consumer spending. The Bank of Canada maintained its policy rate at 2.25% in December 2025, emphasizing stability while guiding inflation near its 2% target.

For Saskatchewan businesses, these trends suggest a cautious but improving economic environment marked by strong domestic demand and mixed external conditions. Rising full-time employment, higher wages, and increased consumer spending point to stronger local purchasing power, benefiting retailers, restaurants, and service providers. However, declines in manufacturing, exports, and parts of wholesale trade signal ongoing challenges from global market volatility and lower demand for resource-based goods. The surge in construction and housing starts offers opportunities in real estate, trades, and materials supply, while moderate inflation and stable interest rates from the Bank of Canada help keep borrowing costs manageable. Overall, businesses face a landscape of growing internal momentum but continued external uncertainty, requiring strategic adaptation and diversified market focus.

Composite Indicator Actual & Seasonally Adjusted

Key Indicator This Month

Employment

2.7%

September 2025 YTD

Employment

2.7%

September 2025 YTD

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This Issue's Economist:

Stephen Johnson

MA
Chief Economist

This Issue's Editor:

Spencer Boyle

BA, Economics
Project Coordinator


TrendLine Saskatchewan is published monthly by Praxis Consulting.