Stay informed with the LNN Daily Newsletter

Labour Force Figures show Lethbridge area with Lowest Jobless rate in the Province

Feb 5, 2016 | 8:10 AM

LETHBRIDGE:  The Lethbridge Medicine Hat region has the lowest jobless rate in the province, in spite of the fact it rose to 5.8% in January, from 5.7% in December.

That figure is also two-percentage points higher than the 3.7% registered in January of 2015.

Provincially, Alberta’s jobless rate increased from an even 7% in December to 7.4% in Janaury. That figure is also considerably higher than the 4.6% rate posted in January of last year.

The highest unemployment rate in the province sits at 9% for the Wood Buffalo – Cold Lake area, which had a reate fo 5.4% in January of 2015.

Saskatchewan has the lowest provincial jobless rate at 5.6%, followed by Manitoba (6.1) and B.C (6.6).

Nationally, the unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a percentage point in January, to 7.2%.

Statistics Canada figures show a net gain in Ontario jobs was offset by losses in oil-producing provinces like Alberta and Newfoundland. Alberta alone suffered a net decline of 21,900 full-time positions in January.