City's unemployment rate 8.6 per cent, up from 6.8 per cent last year
CALGARY (CP) — There are long lineups in Calgary as people wait to apply for service jobs at a new international airport terminal that is to open this fall.
Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate in the city last month was 8.6 per cent — up from about 6.8 per cent in July 2015.
Employers at a jobs fair at the Coast Plaza Hotel are seeking to hire about 300 people for operations, security, customer service, food and retail positions.
Garth Atkinson, president and CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority, says times are tough but the airport continues to grow.
The authority says several thousand job seekers are at the jobs fair.
Neil Fitzgerald is an electrician by trade but says he is open to any opportunities.
``I would hope for maintenance, that's kind of what I would hope for, but really anything is better than nothing at this point,'' Fitzgerald said Wednesday.
Francesco Francella was also hopeful.
``I got laid off three weeks ago so,'' Francella said. ``I want to work, I don't want to sit around.''
The new international terminal, which includes about 50 retail and restaurant outlets, is to open on Oct. 31. (CTV Calgary, Canadian Press)
