Provincial and Local Jobless numbers dip while National numbers inch up

According to Statistics Canada August’s job increase was the result of an additional 52,200 full-time jobs, offset by a loss of 26,000 part-time positions. Most of the increase was in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. There was little change in most other provinces except New Brunswick.

In Alberta, which once had the lowest jobless rate in the country, the rate for August slipped to 8.4-per cent, down from 8.6. By way of comparison, the provincial jobless rate in August of 2015 was 6.1-per cent, but sat at a low of 4.4-per cent in October and November of 2014.

In August, the lowest provincial unemployment rates were in BC, at 5.5-per cent, followed by Manitoba at 5.9 and Saskatchewan at 6.3. The highest jobless rates are in Prince Edward Island, at 12.-per cent at Newfoundland and Labrador 12.3-per cent.

For the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region, the unemployment rate dipped three-tenths of a point, from 7.6-per cent in July to 7.3 in August. During the same month in 2015, the local rate sat at 4.6-per cent.

Calgary, which was once the centre of job creation, now holds the dubious distinction of having the highest ‘city’ jobless rate in the country at nine-per cent. Barrie, Ontario follows at 8.7 and Edmonton at 8-per cent.

by Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter) with files from Statistics Canada and The Canadian Pres

Provincial and Local Jobless numbers dip while National numbers inch up

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