By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter) with files from The Canadian Press

Local and provincial jobless numbers climb

Jan 4, 2019 | 9:21 AM

LETHBRIDGE —  The Lethbridge-Medicne Hat jobless rate has taken a hit of more than half a point. 
 
The rate rose to 4.5-per cent in December from 3.9 in November, which was the lowest regional jobless rate in the province at that time.
 
 Alberta’s rate crept up a tenth of a point to 6.4 per cent, on the loss of 16,900 net jobs last month, as an increase in part-time work was far outweighed by a loss of 36,200 full-time positions.  Some of the sectors hit included the obvious oil and gas and their supply industries, as well as construction and real estate.
 
Calgary continues to have the highest regional jobless rate in the province.
 
The National unemployment rate stayed at its 43-year low of 5.6 per cent last in December as the economy closed out 2018 with the addition of 9,300 net new jobs.
 
Another sttistic coming out the numbers, shows year-over-year average hourly wage growth for permanent employees was 1.46 per cent in November and it has decelerated steadily since its May peak of 3.9 per cent.

Looking back at 2018, Statistics Canada says the country gained 163,300 net new jobs for an increase of 0.9 per cent, which was a slower pace of growth compared with 2.3 per cent in 2017 and 1.2 per cent in 2016.

Employment growth in 2018 was mostly concentrated in the services sectors, which generated 151,000 positions compared with an increase of just 12,300 in goods-producing industries.