The unemployment rate in the Medicine Hat region rose to 5.4 per cent in June, according to new analysis released Tuesday by the provincial government.--News Photo
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The local unemployment rate edged higher in June compared to this time in 2022, according to new regional analysis released by the provincial government this week.
The provincial jobless rate of 5.7 per cent was announced July 7, while the labour market sheet released Tuesday by Alberta Jobs states the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat economic region posted a rate of 5.4 per cent last month.
That’s up from 5.1 per cent in June 2022, but lower than the May rate of 5.7 per cent.
Deep southern Alberta was one of three regions where the unemployment rate rose year-over-year, along with Calgary (now at 5.8 per cent) and Camrose-Drumehller (5.3 per cent).
Wood Buffalo (Ft. McMurray area) saw a large decline, from 6 per cent to 4.7 per cent today, while Banff-Grande Prairie (5.3 per cent) also declined slightly.
Edmonton (6.0 per cent) and Red Deer (5.9 per cent) were even.
The provincial rate stayed on par compared to May at 5.7 per cent, but is one-half point higher than June 2022.
Since that time, 67,000 more Albertans were considered to be employed, but the total number of unemployed persons rose by 18,000 due to an increase in the labour force and people looking for work.
Nationally, Alberta’s rate now sits even with Ontario, while Manitoba’s rate fell to the lowest in Canada at 4.3 per cent. Saskatchewan’s rate sat at 4.7 per cent in June.
