The unemployment rate in western Alberta is back down to where it was in March. 7.2 per cent of people in the economic region that stretches from Banff to Peace River were without work in August.
That’s down substantially from 7.8 in July and is the lowest of any economic region in the province. However, it’s more than two per cent higher than a year ago.
The province reached a 22 year high last month, but it’s back down 0.2 percentage points to 8.4 per cent. Statistics Canada says the drop is due to an increase in full-time employment. However, like the Grande Prairie area, that number is well more than two per cent higher that August 2015.
In Calgary and Red Deer, the unemployment rate is over 9 per cent, and could hit double digits by the end of the year.