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Tim Raymond, 52, is in need of a job and says programs available from the province either do not exist or are “a joke.”

Such programs saw significant cuts in in the 2017-18 budget.

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At 6.2 per cent, Saskatchewan ended 2017 with the second-highest unemployment rate, outside of the Maritimes, in Canada. It is one of the only provinces that ended the year with fewer jobs than it had the year prior.

Raymond, who lives in Redvers, was laid off of a job he had held for about a decade in April when his position was dropped. He says the company was forced to eliminate the job because of its own financial struggles.

That was in April. While he continues to collect federal employment insurance, Raymond has been searching for a job but has not been successful.

Already having been trained in the early levels of occupational health and safety (OH&S), he considered furthering his education.

“I thought I need to continue with this training and I need to get my OH&S certificate,” he said, hoping it would help increase his job prospects.