CALGARY – In a sign that the job outlook may be improving, the number of Albertans drawing employment insurance fell in July, the first decline since October.
Statistics Canada said Monday there were 59,500 Alberta residents receiving benefits during the month, a 4.4 per cent decline from June.
Between October to June, the number of beneficiaries in this province has risen each month, with increases averaging 5,500, the agency noted.
Alberta posted one of the largest declines across the country, which also recorded a 3.8 per cent drop in the number of claimaints.
Still Alberta and most provinces show the number of beneficiaries are still much higher than a year ago.
Alberta’s largest cities showed the largest percentage increases in the number of regular beneficiaries from over the past year as job losses continued to mount as a result of the economic slowdown.
In Calgary, the number of people receiving employment insurance rose more than quardrupled to 21,200 over the 12-month period.
At the same time, the number of people in Edmonton receiving benefits rose from 6,000 to 18,500.
lschmidt@theherald.canwest.com
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