Alberta’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.6 per cent in October, which is a decrease of 0.5 percentage points from the previous month.
This rate was the fifth highest in Canada after Newfoundland and Labrador’s 13.9 per cent, Prince Edward Island’s 9.1 per cent, New Brunswick’s 9.1 per cent and Nova Scotia’s 8.3 per cent. The national rate was 6.7 per cent, down 0.2 percentage points from the previous month.
“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,” said Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer.
The unemployment rate decreased because the labour force decreased by 24,200 and employment decreased by 9,000, when compared to September.
Full-time employment increased by 9,400 while part-time employment decreased by 18,500 over the same period.
Alberta Labour Force statistics show Red Deer’s unadjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.8 per cent, a 1.2 percentage-point decrease from September. The city’s unadjusted unemployment rate in October 2020 was 11.3 per cent.
Between October 2020 and October 2021, employment increased by 76,200. The number of unemployed Albertans decreased by 79,600 over the same period.
Year-over-year, employment gains were led by the private sector at 96,100. Public sector employment increased by 4,300 while self-employment decreased by 24,100 over the same period.
In October 2021, the industries that had the most employment decreases from the previous month were accommodation and food services (10,000), other services (5,800), and forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas (4,200). Industries that had the most employment gains over the same period were wholesale and retail trade (10,100), public administration (2,900) and business, building and other support services (2,600).
“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,” said Schweitzer.
“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.”
Send your news tips
Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter