Sonya Lloyd scanned job ads late last week on a computer at the Alberta Supports employment office in downtown Edmonton.

Her hours have been cut back lately, so she has been looking for a part-time administration job to help pay the bills.

But with so many people looking for work, that competition has been tough.

"I looked at a job posting that was posted six hours ago," she said, "and there had already been over 500 people who had viewed it. That's a huge difference."

Robin Fraser is a supervisor with the Alberta Supports Centre downtown, where she said many of those workers are now looking for help with changing careers.

People who had jobs eighteen months ago have run out employment insurance and are now coming to the centre looking for help, she said.

"Significantly, the last six months to a year we've really noticed a difference, really a lot of the Albertans who were working who were receiving EI for their maximum were running out about six months ago. So we're starting to see that increase of Albertans and that foot traffic."

Fraser said employee centres can give career advice and re-training ideas, in addition to help with resumes and preparation for job interviews.