Calgary unemployment increases to 8.1% for September
Posted Oct 12, 2025 10:47 am.
Last Updated Oct 12, 2025 10:49 am.
New unemployment numbers from Statistics Canada (StatCan) are not painting a pretty picture for those looking for work in Calgary, as the city recorded an 8.1 per cent jobless rate for the month of September.
This comes as StatCan’s latest labour force survey reveals Canada’s unemployment rate holding steady at 7.1 per cent in September as the economy added some 60,000 jobs in the month.
That topped economists’ expectations for a gain of 5,000 jobs in September and marks a rebound from losses of more than 100,000 positions over the previous two months.
Meanwhile, Calgary’s unemployment rose from 7.7 per cent the month before.
“It’s pretty high, actually, compared to the previous numbers that I’ve heard,” said resident Jai Jie.
Some residents, on the other hand, tell CityNews they aren’t shocked by the increase.
“I thought easily we were at four to five per cent. But with so many people coming into the city and looking for places to work and places to live, it’s not surprising,” said John Duddy.
“It’ll eventually work itself out, I’m sure.”
Post-secondary student Gabe Brasil says he’s been navigating the challenges of trying to find work, adding he’s struggled to find an internship in his third year in the financial services program at SAIT.
“Well, obviously, the AI is a factor. I think just demand has just not been going up, and it’s just a lot of competition as well,” he said.
StatCan says overall, in September across Alberta, over 43,000 new jobs were added, which was the most in Canada, offsetting declines in July and August.
BMO chief economist Doug Porter said in a note to clients that “mammoth gain” was Alberta’s largest-ever job increase for a single month outside pandemic-era volatility.
These numbers baffled some in Calgary.
“I don’t think that’s enough. There should be more jobs. I don’t have much idea about the other jobs, but in it, we don’t get jobs according to our profile, especially if we don’t have Canadian experience,” said Jatin Babar.
The report notes employment increases in Alberta were mostly in manufacturing, with 7,900 jobs and agriculture at 4,500.
With files from Craig Lord, The Canadian Press
