Article content

Group layoffs in Alberta have topped 12,000 workers in 2015, mostly in the struggling energy sector.

The province received seven layoff notices of at least 50 employees last month, affecting 750 employees. Through August, 12,302 workers have been laid off go in 81 group notices, said Pam Sharpe, spokeswoman for Alberta’s Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour ministry.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or More than 12,000 Albertans let go in group layoffs Back to video

“Of the workers impacted, 74 per cent are related to the energy sector, while 26 per cent are related to the retail, food and financial services sector,” Sharpe said.

Employers are required to give the government four weeks’ written notice of their intention to terminate the employment of 50 or more employees at a single location.

For all of 2014, the province received 35 notices involving 7,508 employees.

Recently, Tervita Corporation confirmed it cut 15 per cent of its corporate staff. Penn West Petroleum announced it was reducing its workforce by 35 per cent with a loss of more than 400 full-time employees and contractors. ConocoPhillips Canada also said it would drop 400 employees as well as 100 contractors.

Earlier this year, Enform said as many as 185,000 direct and indirect jobs could be lost in Canada this year due to cutbacks within the energy sector.