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EDMONTON — Alberta added 23,100 jobs in September, the largest increase among the provinces, as unemployment fell below the national average.
The province says the monthly gain included 25,800 additional full-time jobs, offset by the loss of 2,700 part-time positions.
Alberta’s unemployment rate fell to 6.4 per cent in September from 6.8 per cent in August, compared with a national rate of 6.5 per cent.
Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow said the results show Alberta continues to outperform much of the country at a time when Canada lost 68,000 jobs during the month.
“While Canada lost 68,000 jobs last month, Alberta stood apart as a land of opportunity, adding almost 26,000 full-time jobs in our province,” Schow said.
Youth unemployment also declined, falling 2.8 percentage points to 12.5 per cent, its lowest level since October 2023.
The provincial youth unemployment rate was half a percentage point below the national rate of 13 per cent.
Six of the 10 provinces recorded increases in youth unemployment between August and September.
Schow credited provincial economic and business policies for the employment growth.
“These are not accidental statistics – they are the result of deliberate, business-friendly policies brought in by this government that welcome investment and facilitate growth,” he said.
The province says Alberta has added more than 300,000 jobs since Premier Danielle Smith was elected, an increase of about 13 per cent.
Schow said Alberta is also projected to lead economic growth at nearly three times the national rate.
“Our government will keep on building Alberta and attracting investment that strengthens our economy,” he said.
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