Alberta’s unemployment rate dips in June

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Below is how each of Alberta’s economic regions fared in June, with May’s unemployment rate listed in parentheses:

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• Red Deer: 6.9% (7.4)
• Edmonton: 5.7% (6.3)
• Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake: 5.5% (5.7)
• Calgary: 5.3% (6.3)
• Lethbridge-Medicine Hat: 5.0% (5.0)
• Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca-Grande Prairie-Peace River: 4.5% (4.7)
• Camrose-Drumheller: 4.1% (4.6)

A full breakdown on June’s unemployment figures is available from the Government of Alberta.

“The improvement in the unemployment rate was mostly due to fewer people participating in the labour force,” says ATB Financial. “The number of people employed in Alberta increased by just 2,000 positions in June while the labour force contracted by 7,100 people.”

Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, Doug Schweitzer, says the numbers indicate Alberta remains on a strong economic trajectory.

“Alberta continues to lead the country with high participation and employment rates. While inflation continues to be a concern, it is encouraging that more individuals and families can count on regular paycheques. Our Alberta Jobs Now program is helping. Through its first two intakes, 12,440 Albertans are back to work,” said Schweitzer.

“Our ongoing efforts to ensure Alberta is the most competitive place to do business, along with Albertans’ ingenuity and entrepreneurship, means new opportunities open up every week.”

But the minister’s critic on the Opposition side doesn’t have such a rosy view.

“Despite an ongoing global economic recovery and record resource revenue, overall jobs in Alberta were relatively flat while 6,400 full-time jobs were lost and 7,100 Albertans left the workforce altogether,” says NDP MLA Deron Bilous.

“At the same time, wages have failed to keep pace with inflation as the cost of living continues to increase due to UCP policies. Income taxes, property taxes, school fees, tuition, interest on student loans, park fees, auto insurance and utilities have all gone up under the UCP.

Bilous says the NDP would diversify the energy sector, support emerging industries, and reverse income tax hikes, inflation proof benefits, slash parks fees, plus reinvest in post-secondary.