Unemployment spikes in December, but remains below 2020 levels in southern AB

Unemployment in Medicine Hat-Lethbridge region rose by a full percentage point in December, but remained well below last year’s levels, recent figures released show.

Alberta gained 11,000 jobs last month as the provincial rate fell to 7.3 per cent, down from 7.6 per cent as new positions were offset by more people looking for work. That recent mark is the lowest since late 2019, and is about one-third less than the 11.1 per cent jobless rate in late 2020.

In the Medicine Hat region, the rate moved up to 6.5 per cent, one point higher than November, but down from 10.7 per cent in the year-over-year analysis.

Edmonton saw the biggest drop, falling to 6.6. per cent, while Calgary’s figure of 8.2 per cent was flat month to month.

Job gains were led in the oil and gas sector, construction, accommodation industries and public service, excluding education.

Rates were also steady in regions of Red Deer (6.5 per cent) and Camrose-Drumheller (8.8 per cent). The rate in Wood Buffalo rose to 6.9 per cent.

Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 5.9 per cent compared to November, but by 2.9 per cent compared to December 2020.

Saskatchewan’s rate rose to 5.4 per cent and Manitoba’s to 5.2 per cent.

Quebec led the nation with a rate of 4.6 per cent.