The unemployment rate in western Alberta has climbed for the second month in a row. In January, 7.1 per cent of people were jobless, up from 6.2 in December 2016.
It was 5.4 per cent in November, but 7.9 per cent a year ago. Grande Prairie is part of a large economic region that stretches from Peace River to Banff.
Across the province, employment is essentially unchanged, as 25,000 part-time jobs were added to offset 24,000 full-time job losses. The rate went up 0.3 per cent to 8.8 as more people started looking for work.