Alberta’s unemployment rate is now the second-highest among provinces in Canada, with youth unemployment seeing a spike from 2024, according to Statistics Canada.

The latest labour report for August states Alberta’s unemployment rose by 0.6 points to 8.4 per cent, as its economy lost 14,000 jobs during that time.

It’s the highest unemployment rate for Alberta since 2017–excluding 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only Newfoundland and Labrador is higher at 10.7 per cent.

Those in manufacturing, wholesale, and retail were most affected, seeing the largest declines in the province.

Canada’s unemployment rate ticked up to 7.1 per cent in August as the economy lost 66,000 jobs for the month. The monthly jobs report comes after the July labour force survey that showed a loss of 41

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