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Alberta Labour Market Review


Alberta has continuous annual growth since 1993. However, in 2009, there was a decline in employment by 25,200 jobs. According to a provincial government labour market review, there is also a rise in education levels and the migration flows. It shows that inter-provincial and international migration continues to increase and that more than half of the labour force holds a post-secondary educational qualification.

Highlights of the 2009 labour market review:

- Alberta’s unemployment rate of 6.6 percent was the third lowest in the country and its employment rate of 69.4 percent was the highest in the country
- Employment increased in sales and service, the natural and applied sciences, social sciences, education, government and health
- 14,900 Albertans retired, 600 fewer than in 2008
- Employment of four occupational groups rose. The largest occupational group, Sales and Service, added 14,100 in employment. Natural and applied sciences and related occupations had an increase of 10,000. Social sciences, education, government, and religion was up 5,600; and Health occupations were up 5,500.
- 22.6 percent of Alberta labour force had a high school diploma, which is higher than the Canadian proportion of 20.2 percent.