Alberta jobless rate jumps in July after dipping below national average

August 8, 2025

RED FM News Desk

Alberta’s unemployment rate jumped sharply in July, rising a full percentage point from the month before, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

The agency’s July 2025 Labour Force Survey, released Friday, shows the province’s jobless rate climbed to 7.8 per cent, up from 6.8 per cent in June—when it was slightly below the national average of 6.9 per cent.

Employment in Alberta fell by 17,000 jobs (-0.6 per cent) last month, partially offsetting June’s gain of 30,000 (+1.2 per cent).

Among Alberta’s four largest cities, three saw unemployment increase. Edmonton recorded the highest rate, climbing to 7.9 per cent from 7.5 per cent in June—fifth highest among the 42 Canadian cities included in the survey.

Calgary’s unemployment rate inched up to 7.7 per cent from 7.4 per cent, while Lethbridge rose to 5.7 per cent from 5.2 per cent.

Red Deer was the lone exception, with unemployment edging down by 0.1 percentage points to 5.4 per cent.

Nationally, the unemployment rate held steady at 6.9 per cent in July.