Alberta unemployment rate hits 7% for first time in half-decade

Alberta's unemployment rate rose to sevenper cent at the end of 2015 a level not seen since April 2010 andupfromfrom 4.7 per cent in 2014,Statistics Canada figures show.

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Butoverall employment was little changed in 2015 compared with 2014, the agency said,as declines in full-time employment were offset by gains in part-time work.

The number of Albertanslooking for work increased by58,000, while the number of hours worked in the province fell by 4.3 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014.

Across Canada, employment in natural resources fell 6.8 per cent, with most of that decline taking place in Alberta.However, there were also smaller declines in Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Nova Scotia.

In accommodation and food services, employment declined by 2.3 per cent, mostly in Alberta and British Columbia.

Ontario wasthe only province to post a jobsincrease, according to the figures released Friday.

Nationwide, employment gains totalled158,000or0.9 per centin2015, slightly outpacing the growth rate of0.7per centover the same period from 2013 to2014.

Edmonton and Calgary numbers

Calgary's unemployment rate,measured as a three-month moving average,hit sevenper cent in December,compared to 6.6 per cent in August.

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Edmonton's unemployment rate, meanwhile, stood at 6.2 per cent at the end of the year, compared to 5.5 per cent in August.

Alberta's figures were still marginally better than the national unemployment rate, which stood at 7.1 per cent at year's end.

Worst is yet to come

The figures reflect the toll taken bylow oil prices in Alberta, saysJanicePlumstead, senior economist with the Canada West Foundation.

"As long as the price of oil continues to go downwards, we can probably expect to hear more layoffs," shesaid, adding that 2016 will be another challenging year for the province.

Unlike the 2008 recession, which was driven by the global financial crisis, the recovery will likely take much longerthis time,Plumsteadsaid, asSaudi Arabia continues its campaign to shut out high-cost oil producers.