Job numbers across Alberta saw a marked improvement in September, including in the large area that encompasses Whitecourt.
Statistics Canada says employment increased in Alberta by around 42,500 in September 2025, more than offsetting the decreases seen in the prior two months.
That pushed the provincial unemployment rate down by 0.6 per cent to 7.8 per cent in September.
Alberta is a little bit above the national average of 7.1 per cent unemployment.
Locally, the September 2025 Labour Force Survey indicates the sweeping statistical area which also includes Whitecourt, Rocky Mountain House, Banff, Grande Prairie and Athabasca, had an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent; a slight decrease from 7.2 per cent in August.
Despite the drop, unemployment in the region remains notably higher compared to a year ago, when the Sept. 2024 unemployment rate for the area was 5.1 per cent — among the lowest in the province.
Provincewide, employment numbers ticked up from August with over 2.13 million people employed full time (+18,800), and over 467,000 people working part time (+23,500).
However, the three-month rolling unemployment average in Alberta’s two big cities continues to creep up with Edmonton at 8.7 per cent (+0.2 per cent), and Calgary at 8.1 per cent (+0.4 per cent)
After a summer of gains, the City of Red Deer and surrounding region saw a slight uptick in unemployment.
The unemployment rate in that region was 7 per cent in September compared to 5.4 per cent the month prior.
Still, the Red Deer region has shown a marked improvement from a year ago when in Sept. 2024 it was 7.6 per cent, among the highest in the province.
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Employment among young people saw an improvement, as participation increased among 15 to 24 year olds (+4,900) and 25 to 54 year olds (+38,700) and decreased for people aged 55 years and over (-16,900).
Nationwide, Alberta’s unemployment rate was the fifth highest in Canada.
(Statistics Canada/Labour Force Survey)
Nationally, there was a net gain of 60,000 jobs in September, but the unemployment rate was flat at 7.1 per cent.
You can learn more about the latest labour statistics in Alberta here. The national report can be found here.
