indicatorThe Twenty-Four

Unemployment rate in Alberta lowest in 18 months

Full-time jobs increased by 0.9% (16,300) in August while part-time jobs increased by 0.7% (3,100)

By Rob Roach, ATB Economics 10 September 2021 1 min read

A month-and-a-half into the removal of most pandemic-related public health restrictions in Alberta on July 1 (today’s Labour Force Survey results reflect conditions during the week of August 15 to 21), the number of seasonally adjusted jobs in the province was 19,500 higher than in mid-July for a growth rate of 0.9%.

Full-time jobs increased by 0.9% (16,300) while part-time jobs increased by 0.7% (3,100).

The provincial unemployment rate fell from 8.5% in July to 7.9% in August. Although still high, this is the lowest it has been since February 2020 when it was sitting at 7.5%.

There were 193,400 Albertans out of work and actively looking for employment in August.

Compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark of February 2020, employment in the province was down by 0.7% or 15,900 jobs.

Nationally, employment rose by 90,200 (0.5%) in August and the unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points to 7.1%. Employment was 156,200 (0.8%) below the February 2020 level.

Answer to the previous trivia question: There are currently 338 seats in the House of Commons.

Today’s trivia question (the second of a special non-partisan federal election series): Under renovation since 2018, what is the name of the building on Parliament Hill that includes the permanent chambers of the Senate and House of Commons?

Alberta's unemployment rate fell from 8.5% in July to 7.9% in August

Alberta's unemployment rate fell from 8.5% in July to 7.9% in August


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