By James Wood

Unemployment rate jumps in Medicine Hat

Oct 6, 2017 | 11:34 AM

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

Within the Gas City, the unemployment rate rose to 4.9 per cent, with around 36,500 employed out of a 38,400 strong workforce. The month before, the unemployment rate stood at 4.0 per cent. The previous year, it was sitting at 11.3 per cent.

In August of 2017, Lethbridge-Medicine Hat had an unemployment rate of 4.5 per cent down from 6.7 in August of 2016.

However, the latest numbers for the region show an increase. The unemployment rate in September has now increased to 5.1 per cent, up from 4.5 per cent in the previous month.

Despite the rise, when compared to the rates across all provincial regions, Lethbridge-Medicine Hat was the lowest, with the highest at 8.7 per cent in Edmonton.

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

Canada’s national unemployment rate was 6.2 per cent in September. Here are the jobless rates last month by province (previous month in brackets);

Newfoundland and Labrador 15.1 per cent (14.7)

Prince Edward Island 9.5 (8.8)

Nova Scotia 9.0 (8.9)

New Brunswick 7.8 (7.8)

Quebec 6.0 (6.1)

Ontario 5.6 (5.7)

Manitoba 5.5 (4.9)

Saskatchewan 6.2 (6.4)

Alberta 7.9 (8.1)

British Columbia 4.9 (5.1)