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While about one-third of Saskatchewan companies claim to be thriving as the province emerges from a natural resource downturn, almost one-quarter of locally owned businesses say they are planning to cut staff in the coming months.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reported Thursday that the owners of 23 per cent of Saskatchewan businesses say they will lay off staff members through the first part of 2018, compared to just 15 per cent nationally.

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“It is … concerning to see short-term employment plans deteriorating even more,” Marilyn Braun-Pollon, the CFIB’s vice president for the prairies, said in a statement, describing the figure as a “record high” for the province.

The CFIB said in a news release that while its monthly business barometer index — which measures confidence in the economy — is virtually unchanged from October, it remains the third lowest in the country at 52.3.