Regional unemployment falls to 2.8 per cent for December

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 7, 2023.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Medicine Hat’s unemployment rate pushed even lower in December, falling to 2.8 per cent for December in the combined Hat-Lethbridge economic region.

That is down one-tenth of a percentage point from November and less than half the 6.5 per cent rate recorded at the end of 2021.

The current rate is also half the province-wide average of 5.8 per cent in the recent month.

That comes as the province reported an additional 41,200 full-time positions, offset by a loss of 16,700 part-time jobs and growth in the labour force.

“December’s numbers are proof that our economy is thriving and resilient,”stated Jobs Minister Brian Jean in a release.

“Most of this job growth comes from the private sector, with major gains in construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, technology, business and health care. Over the past year, Alberta has contributed almost a quarter of Canada’s total employment growth.”

Across the province, the jobless rate mostly remained steady in six other regions.

It dropped month-to-month in east-central Alberta (to 3.2 per cent in Camrose-Drumheller) and in Grande Prairie (to 5.2 per cent), but rose in Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake (4.7 per cent), Red Deer (6.4 per cent) and Calgary (5.7 per cent). Edmonton remained even at 4.9 per cent.

The overall result leaves the Alberta rate even from November at 5.8 per cent, but well below the 7.5 per cent from December 2021.

Canada’s economy recorded a gain of 102,000 jobs in the month to lower the national jobless rate by one-tenth of a point to 5.0 per cent.

Quebec (4 per cent) and Saskatchewan (4.1 per cent) posted the lowest rates, while Newfoundland and Labrador’s was highest at 10.1 per cent.