APRIL 2008 Issue
GOVERNMENT NEWS
Statistics Bear it Out — Labour Market Still Tight
Alberta’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 per cent in February, up from 3.2 per cent in January, reported Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry. That minor increase, however, still means Alberta’s unemployment rate is the lowest in Canada.
In fact, the government department’s online “labour market thermometer” rates Alberta about halfway between short and tight.
The national average was 5.8 per cent, which on the same thermometer would be close to a labour surplus.
Between February 2007 and February 2008, labour force numbers increased by 59,900 and employment numbers increased by 57,700. Of those employed, 82.8 per cent were employed in full-time positions.
Alberta’s labour force participation rate remained at a record high of 74.5 per cent for the second consecutive month, the highest in Canada.
Over the last 12 months, employment grew by three per cent in Alberta compared with a 2.2 per cent for Canada. For the same period, Alberta contributed 15.9 per cent of Canada’s overall employment growth.
Largest yearly increases in employment occurred in business, finance and administrative occupations, at 65,200; management occupations,18,400; and trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations, 12,300.
Additional information about Alberta’s labour force statistics for February 2008 are available at http://employment.alberta.ca. The site also contains information for employers and employees about workplace standards.
Of a particular interest in such a tight market are the rights and regulations affecting temporary foreign works and those who hire them.