The Liberal MLA for Glace Bay says the latest unemployment numbers are alarming, but they may be even higher than the statistics indicate.

Statistics Canada said the unemployment rate in Cape Breton in March was 18.6 per cent.

That's up more than one per cent from the month before - and is nearly double the provincial rate of 9.5 per cent.

Geoff MacLellan said the percentage doesn’t include the people who have left Cape Breton to find work.

"If you factored in the amount of Cape Bretoners who don't have work on the island, you're at a very frightening place and one that will lead to further outmigration," he said.

"We're losing people by the thousands as it is, and it continues to erode the fragile economy."

MacLellan said all levels of government have to work together to create jobs on the island.

Municipal councillors for Cape Breton Regional Municipality have been vocal in recent weeks about a financial crisis on the island. Mayor Cecil Clarke said the municipality does not have enough money to pave a single road.

Last week, Deputy Mayor Kevin Saccary said they were disappointed with the provincial budget, which included no assistance for the community’s financial plight and could have created construction jobs.