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Which claim is correct?

While there is some validity to both claims, the truth of course lies somewhere in the middle. For a more accurate depiction, the time frame for the current government should be set to their entire time in office, since their election in April 2015.

What is the more accurate number?

24,700. From April 2015 to February 2019, the number of employed individuals in Alberta increased by 24,700, or an increase of 1.1 per cent. However, the employment rate, which is the employed over the population, decreased by 2.4 percentage points, or by 3.5 percent. This is due to a population increase of 156,200 people, or 4.7 per cent.

Are these numbers any good?

Well, every Albertan should be happy that employment went up instead of down over this time, and it is always good that provincial population is increasing instead of decreasing. However, in order to get a better sense of this labour market performance, it is better to compare it to the 11 Alberta governments that preceded it.

How does the current government compare?

Unfortunately, not well. Employment increased for all 12 Alberta governments, and only three other governments posted gains of less than 100,000 jobs. These are 37,200 in 1982-1986, 65,800 in 1986-1989, and 46,100 in 1989-1993.

What about those percentage changes?

The employment growth of 1.1 per cent under the current government is the smallest increase of any Alberta government since the data began in January 1976. The employment-rate decrease of 3.5 per cent is basically tied for largest decline of any Alberta government, with 3.4 per cent in 1979-1982 and 3.6 per cent in 1989-1993.