The region is seeing a drop in the number of jobs from COVID-19.

According to Statistics Canada’s latest labour force survey, Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake lost around 500 jobs in March.

This isn’t the biggest drop in jobs month over month over the past year. Back in September 2019, the area lost around 1,200 positions.

The most spots lost were around 300 in manufacturing and in accommodation and food services as these sectors.

The forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas sector stayed relatively the same at 19,900 jobs.

As expected with the virus, the scientific, technical services and health care sectors saw slight rises in the number of positions.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose from 5.8 per cent to 6.3 per cent.

Provincially and federally, the unemployment rate increased from last month – sitting at 8.7 per cent and 7.8 per cent respectively.

Across the country, over one million people lost their jobs last month. This includes around 117,000 in Alberta.