By Justin Goulet (@JustinGoulet21)

56,000 new jobs added across Canada in February

Mar 8, 2019 | 6:49 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The country’s unemployment rate was at 5.8 per cent for February 2019, according to the latest numbers released by Statistics Canada.

That jobless rate was unchanged from January, and 56,000 new jobs were added across Canada.

According to Statistics Canada, a total of 67,400 full-time positions were added but 11,600 part-time jobs were axed, resulting in the 56,000 net new jobs.

Job growth was most prevalent in Ontario. Employment rose 37,000 in February and the unemployment rate was unchanged from January at 5.7 per cent.

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In Alberta, employment was virtually unchanged from January (66.5 per cent both months).

However, the unemployment rate did rise slightly by five-tenths of a point to 7.3 per cent (up from 6.8 per cent in January).

One year ago, in February 2018, the unemployment rate in the province was 6.7 per cent.

The economic region of Camrose-Drumheller had the highest unemployment rate last month, a jump from 7.8 per cent to 8.8 per cent.

Following that area was Calgary at 7.4 per cent, Edmonton (7.0), Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake at 5.8 per cent.

The Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region’s unemployment rate was listed at 5.8 per cent as well, up from 5.4 per cent in January, almost a half-point increase.

Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca-Grande Prairie-Peace River’s rate was at 5.1 per cent. Capping off the list was the Red Deer region with an unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent.

Categorized by age and gender, 11.6 per cent of youth men and women aged 15-24 were unemployed last month (a change from 6.8 per cent in January).

For adults ages 25-plus, 6.6 per cent were unemployed. In January, that rate was at 6.1 per cent.  

Some of the most popular employment sectors across the province were construction, the trades, health care and social assistance.

CANADA-WIDE RATES

Across the country, Alberta had the highest employment rate last month, at 66.5 per cent.

The rest of the provinces’ employment rate, seasonally adjusted, are as follows:

• Saskatchewan (64.8 per cent)
• Manitoba (63.4)
• British Columbia (62.6)
• Quebec (61.4)
• Ontario (61.3)
• Prince Edward Island (59.0)
• Nova Scotia (58.1)
• New Brunswick (56.7)
• Newfound & Labrador (52.3)

The unemployment rate across Canadian provinces, seasonally adjusted, are as follows:

• Newfoundland & Labrador (11.8 per cent)
• Prince Edward Island (10.3)
• New Brunswick (8.5)
• Alberta (7.3)
• Nova Scotia (6.4)
• Saskatchewan (5.8)
• Ontario (5.7)
• Quebec and Manitoba (both at 5.3 per cent)
• British Columbia (4.5 per cent)

Full numbers can be viewed through the provincial government’s website.