Unemployment edges down as Alberta adds more jobs in October

Alberta added 23,000 jobs in October, the fifth increase in six months, but is still well short of pre-pandemic employment levels, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada.

The provincial unemployment rate has dropped slightly to 10.7 per cent.

The Calgary metropolitan area has seen growth in employment for four consecutive months, adding 101,000 jobs during that time.

Edmontonadded 60,000 over the same four months.

Employment gains in October were spread across several industries, including health care and social assistance, transportation and warehousing, and wholesale and retail trade.

Statistics Canada said employment in natural resources was up in October, but was down 5.2 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

Nationally, employment levels were up slightly 0.5 per cent with an unemployment rate of 8.9 per cent.