Unemployment Rate

• The unemployment rate in Alberta is very sensitive to underlying economic conditions, such as rising and falling oil prices. The unemployment rate tends to be a lagging indicator and can keep increasing for a time even after an economic recovery is underway. That’s because people who had previously given up looking for work re-enter the labour force and start job searching again.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has lead to the highest unemployment rate on record, 12%. 

Employment-related measures indicate the strength of an economy and, accordingly, the population’s ability to sustain itself. Higher unemployment rates lead to more people needing income support to maintain a minimal standard of living and challenge governments and businesses to find opportunities to stimulate job growth. Lower unemployment rates also have their challenges—for instance, employed individuals may struggle to balance their work and family roles, and may face difficulties to secure adequate child care or obtain affordable housing. 

The unemployment rates experienced by Indigenous peoples and youth are significantly higher at all times, but especially during economic downturns. While unemployment rates for women have typically been lower than those for men, especially in recent years, women’s earnings from employment continue to be significantly lower than those of men.