Unemployment rates in the Border City rose on both sides of the border last month. Despite the jobless rate increase, the Alberta side sits close to one full percentage points less than the Saskatchewan side.
The Alberta economic region of Camrose-Drumheller saw an almost full percentage point increase in its unemployment rate rise in January. The region sits at 5.1 per cent compared to 4.2 per cent in December. That rate is not adjusted for seasonal employment. For the past two months, the region has sat as the second-lowest unemployment rate in the province.
Across the border, the Prince Albert and Northern region in Saskatchewan continue to sit at 6.0 per cent, unadjusted for seasonality. The rise in the unemployment rate comes after sitting steady at 5.7 per cent since November.
For the second time in three months, employment declined in Alberta, down 19,000 in January. On a year-over-year basis, employment in Alberta was little changed. In contrast, the unemployment rate increased in Saskatchewan, up 0.3 percentage points to 6.0%
Nationally, employment increased by 35,000 in January due to gains in full-time work. The unemployment rate fell 0.1 per cent to 5.5 per cent last month.