Local unemployment rate continues lower

Alberta’s unemployment rate came in at 7.7 per cent in October, down from 8.4 per cent the month before and 11.4 per cent in October of last year.

The national unemployment rate was 6.8 per cent, down from 7.3 per cent in September and 9.3 per cent in October 2020.

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

“October’s job numbers show that Alberta’s economic recovery continues, with an increase of 9,000 new full-time jobs. While, unfortunately, part-time employment decreased, our unemployment rate fell once again and is now lower than any point during the pandemic.

“This week our government showed our dedication to a clean energy future by investing $176 million to cut emissions by seven million tonnes by 2030. It also will create 5,600 jobs for Albertans.

“We also released our hydrogen roadmap, which will build on our immense success in attracting investment in the hydrogen sector. It will solidify our position as a global energy powerhouse and leader in hydrogen development.

“Our oil and gas sector is firing on all cylinders, and with Line 3 in full operation, Alberta is exporting more oil than ever before.

“Our tech sector continues to boom, creating thousands of jobs and bringing Alberta into the future. I’m excited for what the rest of 2021 has in store for Alberta’s innovation economy.”

The NDP says, however, that Alberta is now 5,300 jobs below pre-pandemic employment levels, adding women were disproportionately affected and saw 13,000 jobs lost last month.

“The Premier and his UCP government keep telling Albertans that everything is fine, but these figures tell a different story,” said NDP Energy Critic Kathleen Ganley. “Albertans are already struggling to pay their bills and now they’re facing job loss under the UCP government. The recovery is still very fragile, and women especially continue to struggle.”

The unemployment rate fell in October, only because 24,000 Albertans left the workforce. Alberta’s unemployment rate is currently 7.6 per cent – higher than the Canadian average of 6.7 per cent and the highest outside of Atlantic Canada.

As a comparison, British Columbia gained 10,000 jobs last month and is up 51,000 since the pandemic started, and Ontario gained 37,000 jobs in October and is up 45,600 since before the pandemic.

“While other provinces have fully recovered job losses from the pandemic, Alberta lags behind due to the UCP’s mishandling of COVID-19 that has made our economic crisis deeper and will prolong our recovery,” said NDP Economic Development and Innovation Critic Deron Bilous. “While the Premier was on vacation, our province was sent into a deadly fourth wave that had devastating effects on our economy. Albertans deserve answers on why the Premier let this happen.”

In Alberta, 4,200 jobs were lost in the oil and gas sector at a time when companies are seeing large profits due to high prices.

“Jason Kenney and the UCP promised their corporate tax handout would create jobs and fill the office towers in downtown Calgary. That plan has failed. We still see record high office vacancies and profits going to out-of-province shareholders instead of investments in job creation here in Alberta,” said Ganley.

“Instead of these no strings attached corporate handouts, and spending $1.3 billion of Albertans’ money gambling of Trump’s re-election, we need real investments in diversifying our economy and affordable child care so we can get women back into the workforce.”

by Sheldon Spackman

Local unemployment rate continues lower

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