Best May on record for job numbers.

Employment

* Statistics Canada figures released June 10 show 494,200 people working in Saskatchewan last month (seasonally unadjusted figure). That's the best May on record, beating by 8,100 the old record for May set just last year.

* May's job numbers bring to 14 the number of consecutive months for record job numbers in Saskatchewan.

* Full-time jobs in the province increased by 4,500 over the previous May. Youth employment was up 2,100 over the previous May, and Saskatchewan had the third lowest youth unemployment rate among the provinces.

* Jobs were up last month in construction, trade, manufacturing, transportation and public administration compared to the previous May. Employment in services, finance, insurance and real estate and the resource industries declined in May, and jobs in agriculture were down marginally over the previous year.

Exports

* In March 2005, international exports of Saskatchewan goods increased for the 15th straight month on a year-over-year basis, increasing by 0.8%, to $1.9 billion, compared to March 2004.

* In the first three months of 2005 total international exports of goods increased by 12.9%, to $5.4 billion, compared to the same period in 2004.

* In 2004 international exports of goods increased by 18.2% to $12.2 billion, compared to 2003.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Retail Sales

* In March 2005, retail sales in Saskatchewan increased by 7.5% to $844.2 million, compared to March 2004.

* In the first three months of 2005, retail sales totaled $2.3 billion, an increase of 5.5%, compared to the same period in 2004.

Weekly Earnings

* Saskatchewan's average weekly earnings for all industries in March 2005 increased by 2.0%, or $12.65, to $640.63, compared to March 2004.

* In the first three months of 2005, average weekly earnings for all Saskatchewan industries increased by 3.2%, or $19.69, to $640.94, compared to average earnings in the same period in 2004.

Natural Resources

* Preliminary estimates are that the mining industry will invest more than $120 million this year in exploration for minerals such as uranium, gold, diamonds and base metals. This is double the $60 million spent in 2004, which almost doubles the $31.3 million spent in 2003. The growth over two years is mainly forecast in uranium and diamonds. Exploration incentives introduced by the province in 2002, and high commodity prices are fuelling a boom in exploration activity.

Forecasts

* In 2005, compared to 2004, capital investment in Saskatchewan is projected to increase by 12.6%. This would be the highest percentage increase among the provinces, and double the national growth rate of 6.0%.

* Conference Board of Canada expects Saskatchewan to have the second fastest real growth in Canada in 2005, while Scotiabank, TD Bank, CIBC, and Bank of Montreal expect Saskatchewan's growth rate to be the third highest in 2005.

Economic Growth

* Statistics Canada reports that in 2004 Saskatchewan posted a real growth rate (adjusted for inflation) of 3.5%, the third-best among the provinces, behind British Columbia (BC) (3.9%) and Alberta (3.7%), and above the national average (2.8%) for the second straight year.

* In 2003 Saskatchewan's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.5%, the second-highest rate among the provinces.