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EDMONTON — Alberta added tens of thousands of full-time jobs last month, leading the country in employment growth despite broader global economic uncertainty, the province’s jobs minister said Friday.
Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow said Alberta gained 41,800 full-time positions in January, outpacing other provinces as economic pressures continue to weigh on parts of the country.
Schow said the province has focused on economic diversification and investment attraction, which he said has contributed to stronger employment performance.
He said Alberta recorded employment growth of 3.4 per cent over the past 12 months, compared with 0.6 per cent nationally, adding the increase suggests job creation is beginning to catch up with rapid population growth.
Schow said Alberta continues to post higher productivity, stronger average weekly earnings and an unemployment rate below the national average.
He said he expects further growth as businesses continue to invest in the province, citing Alberta’s tax environment, workforce and international profile, and said the government continues to promote market access for job creators in Canada and abroad.
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