Highest Unemployment in Alberta

Top 100 cities ranked by highest unemployment

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All Countries · Canada · Alberta

Highest Unemployment — Alberta

1 Rocky Mountain House 14.9%

2 Banff 14.9%

3 Sylvan Lake 14.7%

4 Whitecourt 14.2%

5 Blackfalds 12.8%

6 Edmonton 12.7%

7 Camrose 12.7%

8 Clearwater County 12.6%

9 Calgary 12.5%

10 Lacombe 12.3%

11 Redcliff 12.3%

12 Red Deer 12.3%

13 Hinton 12.0%

14 Medicine Hat 12.0%

15 Wetaskiwin 12.0%

16 Grande Prairie 11.9%

17 Yellowhead County 11.7%

18 Leduc 11.7%

19 Drayton Valley 11.3%

20 Stony Plain 11.3%

21 Chestermere 11.2%

22 Innisfail 11.2%

23 Beaver County 11.1%

24 Airdrie 11.1%

25 Lac La Biche 10.9%

26 Edson 10.9%

27 Brazeau County 10.8%

28 Lloydminster 10.7%

29 Fort Saskatchewan 10.7%

30 Greenview No. 16 10.7%

31 Didsbury 10.5%

32 Spruce Grove 10.4%

33 Westlock 10.3%

34 Bonnyville 10.3%

35 Bonnyville No. 87 10.1%

36 Morinville 10.0%

37 High River 9.9%

38 Wetaskiwin County No. 10 9.9%

39 Lac Ste. Anne County 9.9%

40 Strathmore 9.8%

41 Vegreville 9.8%

42 Parkland 9.8%

43 Olds 9.8%

44 Canmore 9.7%

45 Grande Prairie County No. 1 9.6%

46 Slave Lake 9.6%

47 Cochrane 9.6%

48 Devon 9.6%

49 Ponoka 9.5%

50 Lethbridge 9.4%

51 Rocky View County 9.3%

52 Okotoks 9.2%

53 Stettler 9.2%

54 Strathcona 9.1%

55 St. Albert 9.1%

56 Brooks 8.8%

57 Drumheller 8.8%

58 Beaumont 8.7%

59 Foothills County 8.7%

60 Wood Buffalo 8.7%

61 Crowsnest Pass 8.6%

62 Sturgeon County 8.3%

63 Athabasca 8.2%

64 Wainwright 8.2%

65 Mackenzie County 8.1%

66 Coaldale 8.0%

67 Mountain View County 7.9%

68 Peace River 7.9%

69 Barrhead County No. 11 7.7%

70 Newell County 7.1%

71 Stettler County No. 6 7.1%

72 Cypress County 6.8%

73 Wheatland County 6.6%

74 Taber 6.5%

75 St. Paul 6.2%

76 Vermilion River County 5.8%

77 St. Paul County No. 19 5.2%

78 Belvedere 5.1%

79 Grand Centre 5.1%

80 Glenbrook 5.1%

81 Forest Lawn 5.1%

82 Cougar Ridge 5.1%

83 Kincora 5.1%

84 Haysboro 5.1%

85 Boyle Street 5.1%

86 Allard 5.1%

87 Applewood Park 5.1%

88 Erin Woods 5.1%

89 Albert Park/Radisson Heights 5.1%

90 Millrise 5.1%

91 Kiniski Gardens 5.1%

92 West Hillhurst 5.1%

93 Terwillegar Towne 5.1%

94 Alberta Avenue 5.1%

95 Renfrew 5.1%

96 Glamorgan 5.1%

97 Sherwood 5.1%

98 Hillhurst 5.1%

99 Bearspaw 5.1%

100 Ellerslie 5.1%

Cities with the highest unemployment rates in Alberta face significant economic challenges. Rocky Mountain House has an unemployment rate of 14.9%. These communities often struggle with limited job opportunities, industry decline, or seasonal employment patterns.

High unemployment can have cascading effects on a community, including reduced consumer spending, lower tax revenues, and increased demand for social services. Understanding the causes — whether structural, cyclical, or seasonal — is important for developing effective solutions.

Many cities with high unemployment are actively working to diversify their economies, attract new industries, and invest in workforce development programs to help residents gain skills for in-demand occupations.

Did You Know?

1. In Rocky Mountain House, about 1 in 7 workers is looking for a job.
2. Seasonal economies (tourism, agriculture) can cause unemployment rates to fluctuate dramatically throughout the year.
3. Many high-unemployment cities have seen improvement through targeted economic development and workforce training programs.

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