With the latest unemployment picture looking worse than originally thought the national unemployment rate increased to 6.9% last month.

Alberta's unemployment rate has reached 8.6% the highest in twenty-two years, and that doesn't include numbers from the fallout in the Fort McMurray disaster so they could be higher still.

Manager and Career Coach at McBride Career Group Dawn Hansen says it's usually slow over the summer months but not these days.

"I would say that overall the numbers have stayed higher than the usual summer, so there is an indication that people are job searching even through the summer and we're thinking that September we'll be really busy."

She says job seekers need to broaden their job search if they have a certain skill set they have to broaden views and see where else those skill sets might fit.

"If you're the persistent one that looks during those vacation times, that's actually a good time to be looking. People are still hiring.

She says job seekers may have to expand their search and take off the blinders and be open to all opportunities and look for ways to use their skill sets in any setting.

She recommends meeting with a Career Coach because they can help broaden views by career planning and looking at other training options.

Hansen says they've seen their busiest summer and there are success stories and it just takes a little longer to land that job.

"We do have some success stories to report so there are jobs out there and people are finding them. I would say a job search takes longer, it may have taken people a month up to two months to find something. Now it's taking more like six months.

For more information or to speak with a Career Coach click here:McBride Career Group