According to the latest seasonally adjusted Labour Force Survey results, the Alberta economy added 37,100 jobs in March for an increase of 1.7 per cent.

The number of jobs compared to February 2020 before the pandemic was declared was down by 33,900 (-1.5 per cent).

Today’s numbers reflect labour market conditions during the week of March 14 to 20, after the province had moved to step 2 of its reopening plan. Alberta returned to step 1 on April 6.

About a third of the new jobs in March were full-time positions.

The number of full-time jobs was down by 53,900 (-2.9 per cent) compared to the pre-pandemic level in February 2020 while part-time positions were up by 20,000 (+4.7 per cent).

The provincial unemployment rate went from 9.9 per cent in February to 9.1 per cent in March. The unemployment rate in February 2020 before the pandemic was 7.5 per cent and peaked at 15.8 per cent in June 2020.

The number of officially unemployed Albertans fell by 18,700 (-7.7 per cent) in March leaving a total of 223,400 Albertans out of work and actively looking.

Answer to the previous trivia question: The new Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) entered into force on July 1, 2020.

Today’s trivia question: In Alberta, under what age are children only allowed to be employed if it is for an artistic endeavour?