The latest unemployment numbers were released Friday.

Statistics Canada reports Alberta’s jobless rate rose from 6.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent, well below the national average of 8.1 per cent..

However, the Alberta Federation of Labour says the real unemployment rate in our province is closer to 10 per cent.

The president of the Alberta Federation of Labour says jobless stats don’t tell the whole story.

Gil McGowan tells 660News the numbers released by stats can exclude a large group of people. He says real unemployment rate includes those who have dropped out of the labour force, and those who have involuntarily taken part-time work when they want full-time work.

McGowan says the Stelmach government dropped the ball when it came to recession stimulus spending, and that’s why Alberta’s recovery from the economic downturn continues to sputter.

iNews 660, Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:53:19 AM
Kevin Usselman