A relatively unchanged job market in May for southwestern Saskatchewan.

According to Statistics Canada, the southwest region which encompasses Moose Jaw and Swift Current experienced their unemployment rise by a percentage point in a year-over-year comparison to 4.6%.

The southwest unemployment rate has slipped eight spots in just a year's time to sit tied for tenth out of 66 regions in Canada, after losing roughly 1,600 jobs.

Saskatchewan's unemployment rate was also pretty stagnate in the last year slightly rising to 6.8% from 6.7% since May 2017 and during that time the province lost about 2,600 jobs.

The nation's unemployment rate, however, is trending positively in year-over-year basis dropping 0.7% and now sits at 6.1%.

The southwest's population is estimated at 81,300 - a decrease of 400 residents from last year. Of the 81,300 people, 52,100 are in the labour force with 49,700 of them working and 2,400 are unemployed.