The Alberta Federation of Labour says the increased unemployment rate in Alberta last month only confirms that the province is not going to escape the economic downturn unscathed. President Gil McGowan says no one should be surprised that most of the job losses ocurred in the oilpatch and construction industry, but says he is concerned that manufacturing and retail jobs have also suffered.

Alberta’s jobless rate in February came in at 5.4 percent from January’s 4.4.

CHQR Newsroom, Fri Mar 13 2009