Alberta Sees Spike in Employment Insurance Claims Amid Rising Unemployment

Unemployment in Alberta rose in August, with the province recording one of the highest rates of joblessness in Canada. Recent data from Statistics Canada shows the unemployment rate in Alberta reached 8.1 per cent in August 2024, a 1.9 per cent increase in Employment Insurance (EI) claims compared to the previous year.

The hardest-hit demographic in the province is working-age men, with an unemployment rate reaching 9.4 per cent. Nationally, the jobless rate sits at 5.6%, marking the highest level in over two years.

Sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas extraction have been particularly affected. Meanwhile, our neighbouring province of Saskatchewan posted decreases in unemployment, highlighting the regional disparity in economic conditions.