National unemployment down, but local unemployment rate rises in December
MEDICINE HAT, AB — While the national unemployment is trending downwards, Medicine Hat’s rate has continued to rise, according to the latest release from Statistics Canada.
Across Canada, the unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 per cent in December, down from 5.9 per cent in November. The rate for December is the lowest number since comparable data was released in 1976.
However, Medicine Hat’s unemployment rate rose to 7.5 per cent, up from 6.3 per cent in November.
However, the numbers show 1,700 more people entered the workforce in December, pushing the number of employed up.