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Alberta’s labour force lost thousands more jobs during what was a surprisingly positive month for employment in Calgary and across much of the country.

Statistics Canada said the province shed 6,400 jobs in May — a decline of 0.3 per cent — as the unemployment rate rose 0.3 points to 5.8 per cent, its highest level since January 2011. More than half of the job losses — 3,800 positions — were in the natural resources sector, it said.

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On an annual basis, employment grew by 1.7 per cent or 38,400 jobs, though Statistics Canada said there has been little employment growth in the province since the start of 2015.

The picture was less bleak in the Calgary region where 1,900 jobs were created, even though the unemployment rate grew to 5.5 per cent from 5.3 per cent in April as more people entered the local workforce. Year-over-year, employment was up 4.7 per cent, or 37,100 positions.

Jeanette Sutherland, manager of workforce and productivity for Calgary Economic Development, said the local job numbers were surprising.