Red Deer unemployment in March steady as province and nation add jobs

“Opportunities in our province continue to grow and more Albertans are finding good jobs and taking home regular paycheques. It is very encouraging to see that even as more and more people choose Alberta, they are finding meaningful work. In March, nearly 14,000 found work, including more than 10,000 in new full-time positions,” says Brian Jean, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development, who credits the Alberta is Calling campaign.

“We know that Alberta is a land of opportunity with a Renewed Alberta Advantage that is helping to attract investment, diversify our economy and create jobs. The policies our government has been relentlessly pursuing mean that job creators, entrepreneurs and skilled workers have a home here and can succeed. That is why nearly 500,000 more Albertans are working today than were working in May 2019.”

Alberta NDP Energy Critic Kathleen Ganley says despite positive job numbers last month, Albertans continue to struggle to pay their bills under the UCP, “as inflation outpaces wage growth and people fall further behind.”

“In fact, Alberta has the slowest wage growth in the country. In addition, Alberta’s unemployment rate remains higher than the national average while Calgary’s unemployment rate is the highest in the country among cities,” says Ganley.

“An Alberta NDP government will make life more affordable, attract new investment, and create good-paying jobs.”

According to ATB Financial’s The Owl report, employment grew both nationally and provincially in March.

Alberta’s rate sits at 5.7 per cent, down one-tenth, while the national rate is 5.0 per cent, a near record-low.

Alberta added 13,700 jobs in March, while the nation added 34,700.

According to the Alberta Labour Force Statistics report for March 2023:

Alberta’s rate was tied with Nova Scotia as the seventh lowest in Canada after Quebec’s 4.2%; British Columbia’s 4.5%; Saskatchewan’s 4.7%; Manitoba’s 4.7%; and Ontario’s 5.1%.

It adds that last month, the industries that had the most employment gains from the previous month were: transportation and warehousing (+9,300); wholesale and retail trade (+6,900); and finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+6,900). Industries that had the most employment decreases over the same period were: public administration (-6,400); information, culture and recreation (-5,400); and other services (except public administration) (-4,400).

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Red Deer unemployment in March steady as province and nation add jobs

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