Provincial job numbers positive: MLA Hunter

By Trevor Busch
Taber Times
editor@tabertimes.com

Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter sees a lot of positive indicators in recent employment statistics for Alberta.

“Last month we were able to see some good job numbers again. We had an increase of about 15,000 new jobs. Fourteen thousand of them were full time jobs, which is always good to see. We had a big uptick in private sector jobs, which again is very, very positive.”

While the unemployment rate remains a concern, Hunter says market/workforce participation rates tend to offset these challenges.  

“The unemployment rate is still seasonally high, so that’s concerning. But our market participation, workforce participation rate, is still very, very high compared to other provinces.”

Hunter, who also serves as Associate Minister of Water and Chief Government Whip, believes the numbers show that Alberta is still an attractive destination for job seekers. 

“So what it indicates to me is that people still are moving here. We know that because there was a 4.1 per cent increase year-over-year, even though we’ve seen a change in the federal policy and immigration. We still see some provincial immigration that is happening. And people (are) coming into Alberta from other provinces, because this is where the jobs are. So that is all positive.”

“Alberta is still firing on all cylinders. And we really want to keep an eye on those job numbers and unemployment rate, but the unemployment rate really is – I would say, due to how many people are moving here – just takes a bit of time.”