The unemployment rate improved to five per cent in Lethbridge in February. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge unemployment improves to 5% in February

Mar 7, 2025 | 9:59 AM

There was a small change in the unemployment rate in Lethbridge last month, as was the case for much of the country.

Statistics Canada says five per cent of people in the Lethbridge area who were able to work were out of a job in February, compared to 5.2 per cent in January.

The number of people who were employed locally grew by around 900.

The jobless rate in Calgary went down by 7.7 per cent in January to 7.3 per cent last month, while Red Deer and Edmonton were relatively unchanged at 9.6 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively.

Provincially, unemployment was flat at 6.7 per cent.

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Alberta experienced a transition towards full-time employment as that grew by 15,900 while the number of part-time positions fell by 18,100.

The industries with the greatest growth in jobs in Alberta were accommodation and food services (+8,700), wholesale and retail trade (+7,400), and construction (+6,800).

On the other hand, declines were experienced in sectors such as business, building and other support services (-7,700), manufacturing (-6,900), and healthcare and social assistance (-5,400).

On a national basis, there was a net gain of around 1,100 jobs in February, which was far below what many economists had predicted.

The Canadian unemployment rate remained at 6.6 per cent.

For more details, the full Labour Force Survey can be found on Statistics Canada.

READ MORE: Minimal job gains in February as unemployment rate holds at 6.6%: StatCan