Grande Prairie unemployment rate down from July to August

The number of people looking for work in the Grande Prairie region saw a slight decline from July to August.

According to the latest report from Statistics Canada, 7.2 per cent of those looking for a job in the Banff – Jasper – Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca – Grande Prairie – Peace River economic region were without employment. That is a 0.2 per cent decline from July to August. 

According to the national report, manufacturing, wholesale and retail jobs saw the largest decline in the number of jobs available. While the healthcare and social assistance, educational services, and utility industries saw an increase in the number of positions offered. 

Camrose-Drumheller and Red Deer were tied with 5.4 per cent for the lowest unemployment rate in Alberta, while Edmonton reported the highest with 8.7 per cent.

Across the province, the unemployment rate saw an uptick in August, going from 7.8 percent in July to 8.4 per cent; the second-highest unemployment rate reported across the country. 

Across Canada, the unemployment rate grew to 7.1 per cent, the highest it has been since May 2016, excluding the pandemic.