Compared to pre-pandemic levels, employment in Alberta’s hospitality sector remains down the most of any major industry category.

After adding 19,200 jobs in February, employment in the accommodation and food services sector barely budged in March.

Compared to February 2020 before the pandemic and public health restrictions began, the sector was still short 48,600 jobs in March 2021 (-31.8 per cent).

The information, cultural, arts, entertainment and recreation sector—which includes everything from movie theatres to dance companies to spectator sports—was still 20,000 jobs shy of where it was in February 2020 (-24.7 per cent).

On the goods-producing side of the economy, manufacturing jobs were down by 16,500 positions in March 2021 versus February 2020 (-12.0 per cent) and primary agriculture employment was off by 9,200 (-18.8 per cent).

The drop in agriculture employment appears to be more a matter of a shortage of skilled workers than reduced agricultural activity during the pandemic.

Answer to the previous trivia question: In Alberta, Children age 12 and under are only allowed to be employed if it is for an artistic endeavour.

Today’s trivia question: According to the World Bank, 60 per cent of China’s workers were in the agriculture sector in 1991. What was the percentage in 2019?