An increase in oilfield activities and construction in the Weyburn area has contributed to a continuing low level of Employment Insurance claims at the Human Resources Development centre in Weyburn.

There were a total of 359 EI claims filed in March - 77 from women and 282 from men. Overall this is a significant decrease from 617 a year ago, or 42 per cent, and is a slight drop from February's level of 375 claims.

The unemployment rate in the Weyburn, Estevan and Regina economic region has now dropped to 4.7 per cent from 4.9 per cent in February, down from 7.0 per cent in March of 1999.

The biggest decrease in Employment Insurance claims is for men, going from 526 last March to 282 this year; women's claims dropped from 91 to 77 in the same time period.

An employment boost is normally expected at this time of year, as seasonal jobs start up again with the end of winter weather conditions and the addition of increased oilfield activity. This has led to dramatic drops in claims from the primary industries (down by 129 claims) as well as trades, transportation and equipment operation (down by 80 claims).

The claim levels are approaching the record low levels which were last seen at the height of the last oil boom in this area in 1997.

The decrease in claims from women comes mostly in the sales and service sector and business and finance sector, attributed to increased consumer confidence and the increased oilfield activity.

Age groups showing an increase in claims are the 20-24 and 45-54 age group for women, and 15-19 and 65 and over for men. The age groups showing the largest decreases are men aged 20-24, 25-34 and 35-44, along with women aged 25-34.