By Sheldon Spackman

Growing Workforce

Unemployment rate still high for Red Deer region, but positivity emerging

Aug 6, 2021 | 12:08 PM

Despite having the highest unemployment rate in the province once again this month, the Red Deer economic region is seeing some positive signs in its local labour market.

According to the latest Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada on Friday, the Red Deer economic region had an unemployment rate of 10.2 per cent in July – the highest rate among economic regions in Alberta last month and the same rate seen in June.

That compares with an unemployment rate of 9.7 per cent in the Calgary region last month, 9.0 per cent in the Edmonton region, 8.2 per cent in Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca-Grande Prairie-Peace River, 7.2 per cent in Camrose-Drumheller, 6.2 per cent in the Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake region, and 4.4 per cent in the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region.

The Red Deer region’s unemployment rate in July, however, is down significantly from the 14.2 per cent unemployment rate seen in the same month last year.

Alberta’s unemployment rate checked-in at 8.8 per cent in July, down from 9.0 per cent in June and 14.6 per cent in July 2020.

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The national unemployment rate was 7.8 per cent last month, down from 8.0 per cent in June and 12.3 per cent in July 2020.

The Red Deer region’s employment rate, however, is showing that more people are working, with 111,400 persons estimated to be working in the region last month, up from 102,500 in July 2020 and 108,800 estimated in July 2019.

That equates to an 8.7 per cent increase from July of last year and 2.4 per cent increase from July 2019.

Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer, issued the following statement about the July 2021 Labour Force Survey:

“Our recovery plan is working for Albertans. With July’s encouraging job numbers, which saw the creation of 20,000 full-time jobs, we are seeing growth and job creation across many sectors of the economy. That’s what the recovery plan is all about: Building on our strengths while diversifying for the future.

“Part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan is the largest-ever infrastructure build in Alberta through the $20.3-billion capital plan. That alone is expected to support 90,000 jobs for Albertans when we need them most.

“Alberta’s Recovery Plan is also opening the door for new investments in hydrogen, tech and innovation, renewables, film and television, and so much more that is driving diversification of our economy and job creation. In fact, Alberta is seeing more than 9,000 new jobs from close to $1 billion in new investment from the film and television industry – including from HBO’s The Last of Us, the largest television series production in Canadian history.

“Another part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan is the Jobs Now program, which is strengthening our workforce with new training and skills to put 22,000 Albertans back to work.

“Most leading banks and think tanks are projecting that Alberta will lead Canada in economic growth this year and next.

“The first half of 2021 was challenging for many Albertans. We are optimistic for the rest of the year and we are incredibly grateful to all of the business owners that made sacrifices throughout the pandemic.”

To view the latest job stats report, visit