The number of jobs in Alberta grew by 0.4 per cent (9,700) in August* but employment was still down by 176,900 compared to the same month last year. Full-time jobs increased by 8,200 compared to 1,500 new part-time positions.

The pace of the recovery slowed in August with 67,300 jobs added in July (3.2 per cent) and 91,600 added in June (4.6 per cent).

The employment growth helped, but the main reason the unemployment rate fell from 12.8 per cent in July to 11.8 per cent in August was a decrease in the number of people looking for work.

Alberta’s labour force contracted by 0.6 per cent (16,000) in August and pushed the participation rate down to 68.6 per cent from 69.1 per cent in July.

Employment in Canada grew by 1.4 per cent (246,000) in August and the national unemployment rate was 10.2 per cent compared to 10.9 per cent in July.

The number of jobs in the country was, however, still down by over a million compared to a year ago.

*The August Labour Force Survey results reflect labour market conditions as of the week of August 9 to 15.