Regina -- Job numbers jumped in April to 483,000 people working (seasonally unadjusted figures), representing the third straight month of job increases in Saskatchewan.

"These are great job numbers. Saskatchewan continues to track well on the jobs front in 2004, following the record year for employment we set last year," Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "Through diversification, we continue to weather economic challenges and witness steady growth in our key sectors."

Almost all sectors showed increases last month, and all of the year-over-year increase was in full-time jobs.

Cline noted that many of the province's economic indicators are sending positive signals about growth ahead. Manufacturing shipments, potash production, natural gas production and drilling, retail and department store sales, building permit values and international exports are all up. Most economic forecasters have predicted Saskatchewan to be near the top in economic growth in 2004.

Saskatchewan had the third lowest unemployment rate in Canada in April at 5.9 per cent (seasonally unadjusted), down 0.2 percentage points from April 2003 and well below the national rate of 7.6 per cent. Regina had the third lowest unemployment rate among major Canadian cities at 5.3 per cent.

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