Job skill, retention issues adding to concerns of labour shortage

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 3, 2022.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The regional jobless rate sank below 3 per cent in November when the province lost jobs compared to the month before.

That is the lowest level in recent memory – 2.9 per cent in Medicine Hat-Lethbridge region – compared to 3.3 per cent in October, and 5.5 per cent in November 2021.

However, local employment observers tell the News that employers are also struggling with a misalignment of skills and retention.

Peggy Gizen operates Being Human Services, which for two decades provided job placement services, but now only provides skills and corporate training.

Gizen told the News on Friday she still receives calls from employers looking for workers and hears frustration.

“We still have shortage in the trades, like we have for 20 years,” said Gizen. “But now we’re lacking soft skills: how to greet and deal with customers, how to stay engaged, how to keep a job.

“There are good young workers out there – no doubt about that – but it doesn’t seem as if there are as many.”

Across Alberta, about 15,000 jobs were lost in November compared to earlier in the fall, but about 82,000 more Albertans are working compare to the previous year.

Statisticians prefer to compare year-over-year analysis because it accounts for seasonal nature of some jobs.

From a regional perspective, the unadjusted rate fell or remained even month to month in Wood Buffalo (now at 4.5 per cent), Banff-Grande Prairie (5.6) and Camrose-Drumheller (3.9 per cent.

The seasonally adjusted rate, calculated only for major centres, shows unemployment rose slightly in Calgary (to 6.0 per cent) and Edmonton (5.5), but remains about two percentage points lower than in those locations 12 months ago.

The province-wide unemployment rate moved to 5.9 per cent in November after a strong move downward in October. That new rate was highest in Canada west of the Maritimes. Quebec’s 3.8 per cent was lowest in the nation, followed by Saskatchewan at 4.2 per cent.

The national rate fell slightly to 5.1 per cent and sits a full point below levels in November 2021.