By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

good news and bad

Latest labour numbers show improvement on pre-pandemic levels

Mar 12, 2022 | 1:32 PM

It’s a mixed bag of news with the latest labour force numbers.

Most noticeable are some improvements to employment numbers compared to pre-pandemic levels.

According to ATB Financial, after rising by 7,000 (0.3%) in January, the number of seasonally adjusted jobs in Alberta increased in February by 8,200 (0.4%).

Full-time employment decreased by 9,600 (0.5%) while part-time jobs rose by 17,700 (4.0%), ATB says.

That all means the number of jobs in the province was 1.8 per cent higher in Feb. 2022 than in Feb. 2020, a month before the pandemic was declared.

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“February marks the fourth straight month of job gains in our province, which reflects the strength of our recovery coming out of the pandemic,” says Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation. “An increase of 8,200 jobs has dropped our unemployment rate to 6.8 per cent, the lowest rate we’ve seen since September 2019. Every job added means another Albertan is receiving a regular paycheque. Every drop in unemployment means more Albertans returning to the workforce.”

The unemployment rate in Alberta went from 7.2 per cent in January to 6.8 per cent in February, ATB’s report shows.

But the Opposition NDP isn’t buying what Minister Schweitzer and the UCP are selling.

They point to the loss in full-time jobs for a second straight month as a sign that the recovery isn’t as broad as is being boasted.

“I know a lot of Albertans will be asking ‘Why, when energy prices are so high, did I lose my job?’” says Kathleen Ganley, NDP Energy Critic. “Alberta is falling further behind the rest of Canada and that’s more proof that Albertans can’t trust the UCP to manage the economy when we have $100 oil and so many Calgarians can’t find a job.”

Shannon Phillips, NDP Finance Critic, points to tuition increases.

“The job numbers are extremely disappointing, especially for women,” said Phillips. Rather than provide support, the UCP is piling more costs onto Albertans with their no-help budget. The UCP’s so-called natural gas rebate is a complete fake, and their $50 electricity rebate is an insult to people getting hit with bills of $700 or more. Albertans can’t trust the UCP to provide real support for monthly costs and a real plan to diversify our economy and create jobs.”

Says Schweitzer: “As we emerge from a difficult few years, there is increasing evidence that our economy is on the verge of taking off. Economic indicators like building permits are up and more businesses were incorporated in Alberta in February compared with the same time last year. Additionally, our international exports are up by more than 65 per cent.”

Nationally, unemployment went from 6.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent, January to February. As of last month, job numbers were 1.9 per cent higher nationally than their pre-pandemic level.