Unemployment in Alberta dropped last month, bringing it in line with the national rate. Statistics Canada released its May 2026 Labour Force Survey on Friday, which showed Alberta’s jobless rate sitting at 6.6 per cent – down 0.4 percentage points from seven per cent the month prior and down 0.8 percentage points from 12 months earlier. Employment, meanwhile, increased by 14,000 (0.5 per cent) in May, following three consecutive months of little variation. Year-over-year, employment in Alberta was up by 104,000 (4.1 per cent) in May, the largest year-over-year increase among the provinces. Unemployment by city Looking at unemployment in Alberta’s four largest cities, Edmonton’s rate was the highest in April, sitting at 7.1 per cent, unchanged from the month prior. Calgary’s jobless rate climbed slightly, sitting at seven per cent compared to 6.7 per cent in April. “May’s numbers reflect a labour market adjusting to a slower growth environment, where Calgary is still adding jobs — particularly full-time roles — but not at the same pace as the number of people entering the workforce,” said Brad Parry, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, in a statements. “Even with that pressure showing up in the unemployment rate, Calgary continues to lead among major cities for employment, pointing to underlying demand for workers as the economy navigates through broader uncertainty.” In Red Deer, the unemployment rate was 6.2 per cent in May, the same as the month before. Lethbridge’s jobless rate dipped to 5.2 per cent in May from 5.7 per cent in April. The national unemployment rate was 6.6 per cent in May. The May Labour Force Survey looked at market conditions during May 10 to 16.
