By Brian Konrad

Regional unemployment rises as provincial rate goes down in February

Mar 9, 2018 | 7:25 AM

Medicine Hat, AB – The Medicine Hat – Lethbridge region was one of only 2 economic regions in the province where the unemployment rate went up in February.  Calgary was the other.
 
The rate for Medicine Hat – Lethbridge was 6.9 per cent, an increase of three tenths of a point.
 
A year ago, the rate here was 6.6 per cent.
 
Alberta’s unemployment rate was down three tenth of a per cent in February, at 6.7 per cent.
 
Canada’s jobless rate dropped a tenth of a point to 5.8 per cent from January.

The agency says 15,400 net new jobs were created last month — helped by an increase of over 50 thousand public sector jobs.

Stats Can also says 282, 500 full time jobs have been created in Canada in the last 12 months.

The report also found the average wage growth in February was 3.1 per cent.