Updated: Fri Mar. 13 2009 12:44:31

ctvcalgary.ca

Statistics Canada released new unemployment numbers for the month of February and they are painting a bleak picture in Alberta.

Last month, Canadian employers slashed 82,600 jobs and 24,000 of those were lost in Alberta.

This is the second time in 3 months that there was a dramatic drop in the number of employed in the province.

Alberta's unemployment rate for last month rose to 5.4 % and is the second highest in the country next to Ontario where 35,000 jobs were cut.

Nationally, the unemployment rate now stands at 7.7% with the sharpest decrease coming in the construction sector where more than 43,000 jobs were lost.

Most of Alberta's losses were in manufacturing, construction and the oil and gas industries.

Manufacturing lost more than 10,000 jobs, construction saw 8900 job losses and 5800 oil and gas jobs were cut in the province.

Calgary's unemployment rate for the month of February was 4.7 %.

Since last October, Canadian employers have axed 295,000 jobs and the only provinces that did not record job losses last month were Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

To view the reports from Statistics Canada click here.

Comments are now closed for this story

Tony
WOW....now maybe Calgary Landlords will start to drop the incredibly ridiculous prices they're charging for apartments. Frankly, I feel very badly for those who are feeling the impact first hand and I know a few of those who have. Now, they're not only out of work but now they can't afford housing unless they take on 3 jobs at lower rates than they were making so they're now forced to move provinces. What a shame the boom brings the greed it does and the slump leaves hits the lower income first and hardest. Shame on all you landlords for your greed and comtempt.

Shocking!
History repeating itself. Just like the boom in the 80's. Really, who is shocked??

YouandMeTogether
Something does not add up here or am I missing it. Alberta has rate of 5.4 supposedly only second to Ontario but natioanl average is 7.7%. Doesn't that mean that every other province is under 5.4% and Ontario would have to be 15% or something like that.

Tired of only Oil
Too bad all the Alberta government has done to diversify the economy is talk. Never a long term vision.

Ann
Until now the media has focused on the job loss in Ontario. Finally a report on just how hard Alberta is being hit. This is something I have been hearing from many friends and family for several months now.

Dave S Calgary
What??? the great and powerful Alberta surcomming to the economical disaster. When is this Province going to learn each time the big boom is over evrybody seems shocked for some reason, They over inflate everything and we fall every time.