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Unemployment in Whitecourt region drops to 5 per cent; lower than provincial average

Whitecourt, AB, Canada / XM 105
Dec 8, 2025 | 12:33 PM
Unemployment in Whitecourt region drops to 5 per cent; lower than provincial average

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It was a strong month for employment across much of the province, including the Whitecourt statistical area.

The Alberta government reports that employment grew by 28,700 positions in November, with more than 86 per cent of those being full-time. The increase lowered Alberta’s unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points to 6.5 per cent.

In the Banff–Jasper–Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca–Grande Prairie–Peace River region, unemployment fell from 6 per cent in October to 5 per cent in November.

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Alberta posted the largest month-over-month employment gain of any province.

Nationally, employment in Alberta rose 29,000 in November, up 1.1 per cent — the second significant increase in three months. Year over year, employment was up 105,000, or 4.2 per cent.

The unemployment rate fell to its lowest point since March 2024. Calgary’s rate declined 0.6 percentage points to 7.3 per cent, while Edmonton’s fell 0.9 percentage points to 7.7 per cent (three-month moving averages).

New Brunswick (+5,500; +1.4 per cent) and Manitoba (+4,500; +0.6 per cent) followed Alberta in employment growth.

Employment statistics for Alberta, Nov. 2025. (Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey)

 

The industries with the largest job gains were health care and social assistance (+13,800), accommodation and food services (+13,400), and educational services (+6,200). Declines occurred in public administration (-8,700), wholesale and retail trade (-2,600), and agriculture (-1,400).

All Alberta regions reported lower unemployment in November:

  • Lethbridge–Medicine Hat: 7.4 per cent (down 1.2)

  • Red Deer: 7.3 per cent (down 0.1)

  • Edmonton: 7.1 per cent (down 1.1)

  • Calgary: 7 per cent (down 0.6)

  • Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake: 6.6 per cent (down 0.2)

  • Banff–Jasper–Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca–Grande Prairie–Peace River: 5 per cent (down 0.5)

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Despite the gains, sentiment about future job prospects has cooled. Statistics Canada says 42.8 per cent of employees in November reported they would easily find another job with a similar salary — down 6.2 percentage points from November 2023.

You can learn more about the latest labour statistics in Alberta here. The national report can be found here.