Local jobless rate falls while province, nation hit with tough month

By Medicine Hat News on December 7, 2019.

The unemployment rate in southern Alberta bucked the provincial and national trend in November, according to new figures out Friday.

The jobless rate in the Lethbridge Medicine Hat region sank to 4.9 per cent during the month, down one-and-a-half percentage points from October, but still one point higher than one year ago.

The current regional rate moves in the other direction of the provincial number, which rose half a point to 7.2 per cent, and the national figure which crept up to 5.9 per cent.

The change in Alberta was driven by a steep increase in unemployment in Edmonton while most other regions saw monthly job gains.

Overall, Alberta had 18,000 fewer jobs compared to November 2018, mostly in oil and gas, mining and forestry. The figure is 5,000 fewer jobs compared to earlier this fall. Manufacturing and Agriculture showed gains over the year, while utilities and construction are also down.

In the service sector, professional services, education, and health care showed gains. Public administration, warehousing and business support services were down.

Down over the year were Calgary (6.9 per cent currently), Wood Buffalo (4.3), Camrose-Drumheller (3.7)., while Edmonton (7.7) Red Deer (6.5), Banff-Grande Prairie (5.7).

Nationally, Alberta’s unemployment rate of 7.2 per cent was above the national average of 5.9 per cent.

That figure rose as the national economy lost 71,200 jobs last month compared to October, while economists on average had expected a gain of 10,000 jobs and the unemployment rate to hold steady at 5.5 per cent.

Compared with November last year, the national economy has added 293,000 jobs.

The monthly loss in jobs came as both full-time and part-time employment moved lower. The number of full-time jobs fell by 38,400, while part-time employment fell 32,800.

Regionally, Quebec lost 45,100 jobs in November due to a decline in manufacturing as well as accommodation and food services. Alberta and B.C. both lost 18,200 jobs.

The losses in B.C. raised the nation’s lowest rate from 4.4 per cent last year to 5.0 per cent today. Saskatchewan’s rate rose to 5.8 per cent.