Employment in Alberta in January 2023* increased by 0.9% or about 20,700 positions compared to December 2022—the fourth monthly increase in a row.

However, because growth in the number of people searching for work in the province grew at a faster rate than total employment, Alberta’s unemployment rate in January rose to 6.0% from 5.6%** in December.

The national economy added about 150,000 jobs for a monthly increase of 0.8%. This was the fifth consecutive uptick.

The national unemployment rate was unchanged from the month before at 5.0%.

Compared to January 2022, employment in Alberta was 0.9% higher (+99,400 positions) and by 0.8% (+746,300) nationally.

*The Labour Force Survey estimates for January are for the week of January 15 to 21, 2023.

**Alberta’s unemployment rate in December 2022 was originally estimated to be 5.8% but was revised down to 5.6% by Statistics Canada.

Answer to the previous trivia question: According to Statistics Canada, over 11 million metric tonnes of wheat were produced in Alberta last year.

Today’s trivia question: Who holds the record for the shortest term of any Canadian Prime Minister at just 69 days?