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Unemployment rate rises again in Medicine Hat

Nov 3, 2017 | 10:46 AM

MEDICINE HAT, ALTA- The unemployment rate in the local area has risen since September, according to new federal statistics.

Within the Gas City, the unemployment rate rose to 5.3 per cent, with around 37,800 people employed out of a 39,900 strong workforce. The month before, the unemployment rate stood at 4.9 per cent. The previous year, it was sitting at 8.8 per cent.

In October of 2017, Lethbridge-Medicine Hat had an unemployment rate of 5.1 per cent down from 6.8 in the previous year.

However, the latest numbers for the region show an increase. The unemployment rate in September has now increased to 5.1 per cent in the previous month.

Despite the rise, when compared to the rates across all provincial regions, Lethbridge-Medicine Hat and Red Deer were the lowest, with the highest at 8.2 per cent in Calgary.

Statistics Canada advised against monthly comparisons, due to small sample sizes.

Canada’s national unemployment rate was 6.3 per cent in October. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (previous month in brackets):

— Newfoundland and Labrador 14.5 per cent (15.1)

— Prince Edward Island 10.3 (9.5)

— Nova Scotia 8.7 (9.0)

— New Brunswick 7.8 (7.8)

— Quebec 6.1 (6.0)

— Ontario 5.9 (5.6)

— Manitoba 5.2 (5.5)

— Saskatchewan 5.9 (6.2)

— Alberta 7.8 (7.9)

— British Columbia 4.9 (4.9)