By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Unemployment in Alberta cities stable as national economy adds 60,000 jobs in June

Jul 8, 2023 | 1:05 PM

Red Deer’s unemployment rate as if June 2023 is 5.9 per cent.

That’s up from 5.8 per cent in May, but down from 6.8 per cent in April and 7.7 per cent in March.

In comparison, Lethbridge-Medicine Hat is at 5.4 per cent, Calgary 5.8 and Edmonton 6.0, all a far cry from June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak when each region was stuck between 10 and 15 per cent unemployment.

Alberta as a whole sits at 5.7 per cent, up from 5.2 per cent a year ago, though it’s remained in that range through that span.

“June’s numbers continue to demonstrate Alberta’s strong economy with 10,600 more employed workers,” says Matt Jones, Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade. “The unemployment rate remains the same while the number of full-time jobs continues to increase on a month-over-month basis, with nearly all of last month’s job increases being full-time. Most of this job growth is coming from the private and services-producing sectors.

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On Friday, Statistics Canada announced the national unemployment rate ticked up to 5.4 per cent in June.

That’s up from 5.2 per cent in May and the highest it’s been in over a year, the Canadian Press (CP) reports. It’s also the second month in a row the unemployment rate has increased.

The national economy added 60,000 jobs in June, but with more people searching for work, the unemployment rate pushed higher.

Job gains were concentrated in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, health care and social assistance and transportation and warehousing.

CP notes that The Bank of Canada will be paying close attention to the report as it gears up for its interest rate decision next week.

(with files from The Canadian Press)

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Unemployment in Alberta cities stable as national economy adds 60,000 jobs in June

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