Employment stats are out for the month of September, showing improvements compared to September last year.

Outlined in a release from Stats Canada on Friday, the past year saw some fairly large changes in the employment statistics in the Moose Jaw to Swift Current area.

The information shows a decrease in the number of people not in the labour force, as well as a slightly higher participation rate.

In September of last year, the number of people not in the labour force was sitting at approximately 29,400, while now it is sitting at around 27,900 - a change of 1,500.

The participation rate went up 1.6 percentage points, leaving a total amount at 65.6 percent.

Also outlined in the release was that the number of people in the area who are unemployed has taken a jump.

Since September 2017 the unemployment rate in the area has risen to 4.9 percent, up more than a whole point from September 2017's 3.8 percent.

Comparing the stats from this month to last month, a slight decrease in the number of people not in the labour force was seen, as well as a slightly higher participation rate.

On a national scale, Canada's unemployment rate has gone down three decimal points since this time last year, bringing the total to six percent, and saw the participation rate lower by three decimal points, adding up to 66.1 percent.

The report also outlined the fact that the area has lost about 500 residents since this time last year, and 100 since just this time last month.