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By Josh Hall

lacombe and sylvan lake

December 2025 (un)employment data released for Alberta sub-regions

Apr 1, 2026 | 4:14 PM

New unemployment and employment numbers are being shared for Alberta’s various sub-regions.

Monthly, numbers are issued for Alberta’s seven main economic regions, but these new numbers from December 2025 offer a look into some other municipalities — including Lacombe and Sylvan Lake.

The data is presented as a three-month moving average.

Highlights

Unemployment rates (December 2025)

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lacombe and sylvan lake

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• Unemployment rates increased year-over-year in 13 of 17 regions compared to December 2024.

• Wood Buffalo recorded the highest unemployment rate in the province at 8.5 per cent.

• Lethbridge and High River had the largest year-over-year increase in the unemployment rate in Alberta, rising by 0.7 percentage points compared to December 2024.

• High River and Camrose tied for the lowest unemployment rate in the province at 5.4 per cent.

Employment (December 2025)

• In December 2025, employment grew in only seven of 17 regions in Alberta compared to December 2024.

• Edmonton had the largest year-over-year employment growth (+4.1 per cent), followed by High River (+3.6 per cent).

• Lacombe had the largest year-over-year employment decline, decreasing by 5.1 per cent.

As for employment, Lacombe had the largest decline from December 2024 to December 2025 — down 5.1 per cent. Sylvan Lake’s employment rate fell 2.3 per cent.

Seven municipalities say employment increases, including Red Deer at 1.7 per cent.

The full report can be read here.

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READ MORE: Red Deer sees big drop in unemployment