Unemployment rate five times higher for First Nations

The unemployment rate for Saskatchewan’s First Nation people is close to five times higher than non-Aboriginal residents, according to September’s labour force survey. Unemployment for First Nations people was 18.5 per cent averaged over a three-month period, compared to non-Aboriginals, who have a 3.8 per cent unadjusted employment rate, the lowest in Canada. The First Nations distinction does not include Métis or Inuit. The three month average for Saskatchewan’s total Aboriginal population is 12 per cent. Although it’s a complex issue, one thing most experts agree on is that education is one of the key factors to lowering the jobless rate.