The large statistical area encompassing Rocky Mountain House has seen unemployment steadily increase during the spring months.

According to the May 2025 Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada, the Banff–Jasper–Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca–Grande Prairie–Peace River area had an unemployment rate of 7.5 per cent. That’s an increase from 6.2 per cent in April, and 5.6 per cent from May 2024. It’s also up from 5.5 percent at the end of March.

Across the province, Red Deer had a great month in terms of its unemployment rate, falling to 5.9 per cent in May—down from 6.7 per cent in April.

Calgary’s jobless rate rose from 7.4 per cent to 7.8 per cent as its small gain in employment was outpaced by population growth.

The unemployment rate in the provincial capital of Edmonton remained flat at 7.3 per cent.

Altogether, Alberta saw its rate of unemployment rise from 7.1 per cent in April to 7.4 per cent in May.

The number of jobs fell by 1,700 provincially, nearly all of which were full-time positions.

Lethbridge, meantime, had a bit of a different experience with jobs this past month than the rest of the province.

Statistics Canada says the local unemployment rate in May 2025 was 5.2 per cent, falling from 5.4 per cent in April.

An additional 900 people found work in that time.