Across Canada, unemployment is at the lowest rate in over 41 years. Leading the charge are provinces like Alberta, where the unemployment rate fell from 8.5 percent at the end of 2016 to 6.9 percent at the end of 2017. This jump in employment is spread across a variety of industries, making it an indicator of the province’s overall financial health following an economic hit in the first part of 2016.
Alberta has seen a large decrease in employment figures even on a monthly basis, as the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percent between November and December. This comes after an economic hit to the province’s labour market from fall 2015 to summer 2016. Since then, there has been steady growth in the province, with 55,000 jobs added in 2017.
Another promising figure is the distribution of these new jobs, which are spread across a number of sectors, including manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, natural resources, finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, and transportation and warehousing. In the month of Dec. 2017, Quebec was the only province that outpaced Alberta in employment gains. While Alberta has still not recovered to its pre-recession peak, experts say the report shows significant progress.
In Alberta, employment figures have fluctuated throughout the past five years due to economic shifts. These changes can affect many aspects of working at or seeking a job, so it is important that employees and employers alike are aware of their rights and responsibilities under the provincial and federal law. A lawyer can help those with legal questions about an employment situation.
Source: Globalnews.ca, “Alberta’s unemployment rate drops to 6,9%” by Karen Bartko Online, Jan. 5, 2018
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