The region is seeing a drop in the number of jobs to start 2021.

That’s according to Statistics Canada’s latest report which notes Wood Buffalo – Cold Lake has lost around 1,900 jobs in the first two months of the year.

January was worse as there were roughly 1,300 positions eliminated, while February saw approximately 600.

The health care and social assistance sector and wholesale and retail trade sector saw the biggest hits, losing around 1,000 and 800 jobs respectively.

The transportation and warehousing sector had the biggest increase in spots, adding roughly 1,000.

The forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil, and gas sector has added around 100 jobs since the end of 2020, however, it lost another 100 just in February.

Meanwhile, the local unemployment rate continues is currently sitting at 9.4 per cent. This is up from the 8.5 per cent we ended 2020 at.

The provincial rate is down, sitting at 11.1 per cent, while the federal unemployment rate dropped to 8.9 per cent respectively.