Stay informed with the LNN Daily Newsletter

Unemployment rate up across Alberta, down in Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region

Dec 6, 2019 | 9:12 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Last month, the national economy posted its largest monthly job loss since the financial crisis as the unemployment rate rose in November.

Statistics Canada noted that the economy lost 71,200 jobs and the unemployment rate was at 5.9 percent last month, up from 5.5 percent in October.

READ MORE: Canadian economy lost 71,200 jobs in November, unemployment rate rises to 5.9%

In Alberta, the rate also rose, going from 6.7 percent to 7.2 percent in November.

The Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region, however, saw a decrease in its unemployment rate. In November, it was listed at 4.9 percent, down from 6.4 percent in October.

Below are the rates by economic region in the province (October’s rate in brackets):

· Edmonton: 7.0 percent (6.9)

· Calgary: 6.7 percent (7.4)

· Red Deer: 6.5 percent (7.3)

· Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House & Athabasca-Grande Prairie-Peace River: 5.7 percent (5.8)

· Lethbridge-Medicine Hat: 4.9 percent (6.4)

· Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake: 4.3 percent (5.1)

· Camrose-Drumheller: 3.7 percent (4.3)

Breaking down by age demographics, youths (15-24 males and females) saw an unemployment rate at 15.2 percent combined.

For adults ages 25 and up, men and women, the rate was at 6.0 percent combined. For all ages (15 and up), the unemployment rate was 7.2 percent for men and women combined.

Statistics Canada said nation-wide, the loss in jobs came as both full-time and part-time employment moved lower. The number of full-time jobs fell by 38,400, while part-time employment fell 32,800.

-With files from The Canadian Press