Downtown Lethbridge is seen on Friday, December 1, 2023. According to the latest data released by Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate for the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region was 4.3 per cent in November 2023. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet, Eli Ridder

Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region sees 4.3 per cent jobless rate in November

Dec 1, 2023 | 4:07 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The unemployment rate in the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region dropped by over half a per cent in November, according to data released by the province Friday.

The region’s jobless rate went from 4.9 per cent in October to 4.3 per cent in November, in contrast to the trend across Alberta.

The province’s jobless rate was 5.9 per cent in November, up from 5.8 per cent in October. Two months ago, in September, the rate was listed at 5.7 per cent.

Despite the slight uptick to the unemployment rate, the labour force in Alberta increased by 14,400 to 2,653,500 overall.

Below is how each economic region in Alberta fared last month, with October’s rate listed in parenthesis.

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• Red Deer: 7.9 per cent (7.4)
• Edmonton: 5.8 per cent (5.6)
• Calgary: 5.4 per cent (5.5)
• Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake: 5.0 per cent (5.7)
• Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca-Grande Prairie-Peace River: 4.4 per cent (5.1)
• Lethbridge-Medicine Hat: 4.3 per cent (4.9)
• Camrose-Drumheller: 2.5 per cent (3.3)

‘ECONOMY HAS MOMENTUM’

Matt Jones, minister of jobs, economy and trade, said in a statement the labour force grew at a faster rate than employment because “Alberta continues to drive job growth in the county.”

“Over the last 12 months, employment in our province has grown by 4.1 per cent, well above the national average of 2.5 per cent,” Jones added in the news release.

“Thanks to our government’s investment-friendly policies, job creators continue to feel confident about setting up shop or expanding their operations in Alberta.”

Jones pointed to the Dow Chemical’s Path2Zero project in Fort Saskatchewan that promises 6,000 jobs during peak construction and about 400 to 500 full-time jobs when fully operational.

“Our province’s economy has momentum as it continues to create good-paying jobs, attract world-class investment and generate quality opportunities for Albertans,” Jones said.

‘UNEMPLOYMENT RATES CONTINUE TO CLIMB’

Nathan Ip, the New Democrat jobs critic, criticized the increasing unemployment rates.

“Even with a net increase in jobs last month, unemployment rates continue to climb in the province and have remained higher than the national average throughout Danielle Smith’s time as premier,” Ip said.

“Yesterday, the UCP presented a fiscal update that was built on the hope that Alberta will continue to see high oil prices. It does not offer everyday Albertans struggling to find good-paying jobs or pay their bills any relief.”

NATIONAL ECONOMY

Statistics Canada reported that the national unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in November, and the economy added 25,000 jobs.