Alberta’s unemployment up to 7.2%

CALGARY – Alberta’s unemployment rate continued to rise in July, jumping nearly half a percentage point to 7.2 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday.

That rate is the highest in 13 years.

The province lost 3,700 jobs last month while more Albertans joined the labour force.

In Calgary, the rate rose to 6.9 per cent, up from 6.6 per cent in June. Edmonton posted a larger jump, rising half a percentage point to seven per cent.

The economic region in Alberta with the highest rate was Athabasca-Grande Prairie at 8.4 per cent; the lowest was Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake at 5.4 per cent.

Across the country, the rate remained unchanged at 8.6 per cent, as more people dropped out of the labour force.