Local jobless rate up in November over year prior
By Medicine Hat News on January 6, 2024.
medicinehatnews.com@Medicine Hat News The unemployment rate in the Medicine Hat and southern Alberta region was 5.5 per cent last month, up one percentage point from November and 2.2 points higher than late 2022. Statistics Canada’s monthly release of unemployment figures on Friday shows the provincial rate also rose, to 5.6 per cent, and above the national rate of 5.3 per cent. In Alberta, the local region including Lethbridge, saw the largest rise in jobless claims after recording a low rate of 3.3 per cent in late 2022. Edmonton (6.3 per cent in December) and Red Deer (7.9 per cent) both saw a 1.2 percentage point rise. Those were the highest month for Alberta’s economic regions. Calgary’s rate of 5.2 per cent was a half-point lower than Dec. 2022. The Swift Current-Moose Jaw region in Saskatchewan also rose to 4.7 per cent in December, above that province’s rate of 4.3 per cent. 8-7
