Alberta’s Labour Market
Highlights, 2016
Table of Contents
•
•
•
•
•
•
Profile of Workforce
Employment
Unemployment
Wages
Labour Market Outlook
Online Resources
Profile of Workforce
Components of Population Growth
• The contribution of
migration to population
growth in Alberta is
declining as a result of
the prevailing
economic conditions in
the province.
• Migration, however,
continues to be the
major source of
population growth.
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
Net International Migration
60,000
Net Interprovincial Migration
40,000
20,000
0
2006
Natural Growth
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Notes: Figures for 2016 are for the first three quarters only
Net International Migration includes Net Non-Permanent Residents
Data Source: Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, December, 2016
2014
2015
2016
Median Age in Canada and Provinces
As of July 2016 (in years)
50
45
• Alberta has one
of the youngest
populations and
youngest labour
supply in the
country.
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Source: Statistics Canada, Population Estimates, CANSIM, 2017
40.6
36.3
36.9
37.5
40.6
42.1
42.1
43.9
44.6
45
45.3
Labour Force Participation Rates, 2016
• Participation rate in
the labour force by
Albertans is the
highest among all
provinces.
• Alberta’s labour
force participation
rate remain above
70%, rate seen
since 1980.
Alberta
72.5
69.8
Saskatchewan
67.6
Manitoba
65.8
Prince Edward Island
Canada
65.7
Ontario
65
Quebec
64.6
British Columbia
64.4
62.3
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland and Labrador
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
61.7
60.5
Participation Rate by Age Group and Gender
2006
• Although the gap
between men’s and
women’s labour
market
participation has
narrowed in the
last four decades,
women’s
participation rate
still trails that of
men across all age
groups.
94.3%
100%
80%
93.4%
82.2%
80.7%
73.1%
79.6%
71.3%
67.0%
60%
49.1%
40%
32.5%
20%
0%
15-24 years 25-44 years 45-54 years
55+ years
All Ages
(15+ years)
2016
94.2%
100%
92.6%
80.6%
80%
81.9%
78.6%
69.4%
66.3%
65.6%
60%
53.2%
40.0%
40%
20%
0%
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
15-24 years 25-44 years 45-54 years
55+ years
All Ages
(15+ years)
Labour Force Statistics by Economic Region, 2016
Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House
and Athabasca-Grande Prairie-Peace
River:
Working Age Population: 277,000
Labour Force: 195,300
Unemployment Rate: 6.9%
Red Deer:
Working Age Population: 172,300
Labour Force: 122,600
Unemployment Rate: 8.6%
Calgary:
Working Age Population: 1,290,300
Labour Force: 947,800
Unemployment Rate: 9.2%
Wood Buffalo – Cold Lake:
Working Age Population: 118,400
Labour Force: 90,100
Unemployment Rate: 9.3%
Edmonton:
Working Age Population: 1,149,300
Labour Force: 840,400
Unemployment Rate: 7.4%
Camrose – Drumheller:
Working Age Population: 161,400
Labour Force: 108,400
Unemployment Rate: 7.8%
Lethbridge – Medicine Hat:
Working Age Population: 230,200
Labour Force: 159,900
Unemployment Rate: 6.9%
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
Employment
Employment by Industry, 2016
(in ‘000)
269.4
Health Care and Social Assistance
246.4
Retail Trade
179.3
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
The servicesproducing
industries are the
major employers in
Alberta.
149.5
Educational Services
144.4
Accommodation and Food Services
131.8
Transportation and Warehousing
122.4
Other Services
106.1
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing
97.1
Public Administration
83.7
Wholesale Trade
79.5
Business, Building and Other Support Services
Services-Producing Sector: 1,685.9
76.3
Information, Culture and Recreation
251.9
Construction
135.8
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
115.5
Manufacturing
50.8
Agriculture
19.8
Utilities
Forestry and Logging with Support Activities
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
4
Goods-Producing Sector: 577.9
Change in Employment by Industry, 2015-2016
• Alberta posts
employment
decline in 2016.
• Employment
growth in most of
the service –
producing
industries offset
the job losses in
the goodsproducing
industries.
Industry
Total, all industries
Goods-Producing Sector
Agriculture
Forestry and Logging with Support Activities
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction
Utilities
Construction
Manufacturing
Services-Producing Sector
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Transportation and Warehousing
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing
2015
(in '000)
2016
(in '000)
Change
(in %)
2,301.1
641.7
62.8
3.6
155.3
20.2
259.9
139.9
1,659.4
89.5
229.3
129.9
103.5
2,263.8
577.9
50.8
4.0
135.8
19.8
251.9
115.5
1,685.9
83.7
246.4
129.9
106.1
-1.6%
-9.9%
-19.1%
11.1%
-12.6%
-2.0%
-3.1%
-17.4%
1.6%
-6.5%
7.5%
0.0%
2.5%
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
173.2
179.3
3.5%
Business, Building and Other Support Services
Educational Services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Information, Culture and Recreation
Accommodation and Food Services
Other Services
Public Administration
82.3
138.0
264.1
74.9
153.5
117.5
94.4
79.5
149.5
269.4
76.3
144.4
122.4
97.1
-3.4%
8.3%
2.0%
1.9%
-5.9%
4.2%
2.9%
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
Employment by Occupation, 2016
(in ‘000)
Sales and service
512.0
Trades, transport and equipment operators
408.0
Business, finance and administration
368.6
Education, law and social, community and government
services
236.5
Management
204.1
Natural and applied sciences
178.5
Health
Natural resources, agriculture
Manufacturing and utilities
Art, culture, recreation and sport
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
164.4
74.4
65.4
51.9
Change in Employment by Occupation, 2015-2016
Occupation
• There is increase
employment
among
occupations
employed mainly
by the servicesproducing
industries.
Total, all occupations
2015
(in '000)
2016
(in '000)
Change
(in %)
2,301.1
2,263.8
-1.6%
44.2
51.9
17.4%
Education, law and social, community and
government services
218.9
236.5
8.0%
Health
160.7
164.4
2.3%
Sales and service
501.4
512.0
2.1%
Business, finance and administration
362.4
368.6
1.7%
Natural and applied sciences
191.4
178.5
-6.7%
Trades, transport and equipment operators
438.9
408.0
-7.0%
71.0
65.4
-7.9%
226.0
204.1
-9.7%
86.4
74.4
-13.9%
Art, culture, recreation and sport
Manufacturing and utilities
Management
Natural resources, agriculture
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
Unemployment
Number of Unemployed, 2006-2016
(in ‘000)
• The steep drop in
oil prices leads to a
sharp deterioration
in the Alberta
labour market for
two consecutive
years.
250
200.8
200
141.5
150
148.0
142.0
120.7
104.4
106.9
111.7
2012
2013
2014
100
• The number of
unemployed
Albertans reaches
200,800 in 2016,
the highest level in
the last 10 years.
68.5
72.7
76.1
2006
2007
2008
50
0
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
2009
2010
2011
2015
2016
Unemployment Rate in Canada and Provinces, 2016
• Alberta’s
unemployment
rate is higher
than Canada’s
rate and that of
most provinces.
British Columbia
6.0%
Manitoba
6.1%
Saskatchewan
6.3%
Ontario
6.5%
Canada
7.0%
Quebec
7.1%
Alberta
8.1%
Nova Scotia
8.3%
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland and Labrador
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
9.5%
10.7%
13.4%
Unemployment Rate in Alberta, 2006-2016
9%
8.1%
8%
• Unemployment
rate in the
province rises
for three
consecutive
years.
7%
6.5%
6.6%
6.0%
6%
5.4%
5%
4%
3.5%
3.5%
3.6%
2006
2007
2008
4.6%
4.6%
4.7%
2012
2013
2014
3%
2%
1%
0%
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
2009
2010
2011
2015
2016
Unemployment Rate by Industry, 2016
• The sustained
decline in the
price of oil leads
to the higher
unemployment
rates in the goodsproducing
industries.
Business, Building and Other Support…
Information, Culture and Recreation
Wholesale Trade
Accommodation and Food Services
Transportation and Warehousing
Retail Trade
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing
Professional, Scientific and Technical…
Other Services
Educational Services
Public Administration
Health Care and Social Assistance
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Construction
Manufacturing
Utilities
Forestry and logging and support activities
Agriculture
8.0%
7.1%
6.3%
6.1%
5.9%
5.7%
4.7%
4.5%
4.5%
2.3%
2.3%
1.3%
Services-Producing
Sector: 4.5%
9.9%
9.1%
8.6%
N/A*
N/A*
N/A*
Goods-Producing
Sector: 8.5%
N/A* denotes data suppressed by Statistics Canada due to imeet the
confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act.
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
Unemployment Rate by Occupation, 2016
• Natural resources
and trades-related
occupations are
mostly impacted
by the sustained
decline in oil
prices as reflected
by their higher
unemployment
rates.
Natural resources, agriculture and related
production occupations
10.9%
Trades, transport and equipment operators and
related occupations
9.2%
Manufacturing and utilities
8.5%
Sales and service
6.1%
Natural and applied sciences and related
occupations
5.8%
Art, culture, recreation and sport
4.8%
Business, finance and administration
4.8%
Education, law and social, community and
government services
2.2%
Management
2.2%
Health
NA*
N/A* denotes data suppressed by Statistics Canada due to meet the confidentiality
requirements of the Statistics Act.
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
Duration of Unemployment, 2006-2016
(in average weeks unemployed)
25
• The duration of
unemployment in
Alberta reaches an
average of 20.2
weeks in 2016. This is
the highest seen in
the last 10 years.
20.2
20
17.8
17.1
15
13.2
12.7
14.1
14.5
14.6
2013
2014
2015
10.4
10
8.2
9
5
0
2006
2007
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2016
Duration of Unemployment in Canada and Provinces, 2016
(in average weeks unemployed)
Quebec
• The unemployment
duration of 20.2
weeks in Alberta is
the 3rd highest
among the provinces.
This is higher
compared to the
national average of
less than 20 weeks.
21.3
New Brunswick
20.5
Alberta
20.2
Ontario
19.9
Canada
19.8
Nova Scotia
18.9
Newfoundland and Labrador
18.5
Manitoba
18.3
British Columbia
18
Saskatchewan
16.1
Prince Edward Island
14.8
0
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
5
10
15
20
25
Wages
Average Hourly Wages, 2006-2016
$35
• Alberta’s average
hourly wage
remains higher than
the national
average.
$27.68
$30
$23.65
$25
$29.61
$25.19
$25.72
$24.99
$21.13
$24.07
$20
$29.06
$22.44
$21.27
$19.71
Alberta
$15
Canada
$10
$5
$0
2006
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Average Hourly Wages by Industry, 2016
Public administration
$38.14
Other services (except public administration)
• Average hourly
wages in the
GoodsProducing
industries are
higher.
$24.93
Accommodation and food services
ServicesProducing
Sector: $27.84
$15.65
Information, culture and recreation
$23.92
Health care and social assistance
$30.99
Educational services
$33.92
Business, building and other support services
$23.69
Professional, scientific and technical services
$37.61
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing
$29.96
Transportation and warehousing
$28.80
Wholesale and retail trade
$22.38
Goods-Producing
Sector: $35.38
Manufacturing
$30.81
Construction
$33.43
Utilities
$42.37
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas
$42.80
Agriculture
$20.57
0
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
10
20
30
40
50
Average Hourly Wages by Occupation, 2016
Management
$47.28
Natural and applied sciences and related
occupations
• Management
occupations
remain the highest
paid among the
different
occupational
groups.
$42.17
Health
$34.29
Education, law and social, community and
government services
$33.40
Trades, transport and equipment operators
and related occupations
$30.35
Natural resources, agriculture and related
production occupations
$29.79
Business, finance and administration
$29.06
Manufacturing and utilities
$28.92
Art, culture, recreation and sport
$23.52
Sales and service
$18.45
0
Data Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
20
40
60
Labour Market Outlook
Alberta’s 10-Year Labour Market Outlook
400,000
• Despite the current
economic downturn,
Alberta expects a
49,000 labour
shortage in the next
10 years.
Gap=49,000
350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Data Source: Alberta Occupational Demand and Supply Outlook, 2015-2025
Demand for
Labour
=
401,000
Supply of
Labour
=
352,000
Alberta’s Employment Outlook, 2017-2020
2,750
Forecast
2,498.3
• Alberta expects
to see a rebound
in employment
starting 2017
after the dip in
employment in
2016.
2,500
2,401.1
2,274.6
2,250
2,099.5
1,911.6
2,029.7
2,000
1,750
1,500
1,250
1,000
Data Sources: Actual - Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM, 2017
Forecast - Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook, 2016-2020
2,263.8
High Demand Occupations, 2016-2018
Occupation Title
• These are
examples of
occupations
expected to be in
demand in the
short-term based
on the Alberta
Short-Term
Employment
Forecast (STEF).
.
0311 Managers in health care
3011 Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
3111 Specialist physicians
3112 General practitioners and family physicians
3233 Licensed practical nurses
3236 Massage therapists
4214 Early childhood educators and assistants
6211 Retail sales supervisors
6311 Food service supervisors
6315 Cleaning supervisors
7322 Motor vehicle body repairers
7334 Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
Data Source: Alberta’s Short-Term Employment Forecast (STEF), 2016-2018
Online Resources
For more information, please visit:
• Alberta Labour (Labour Market Information):
• Alberta Learning Information Service:
• Canada-Alberta Job Bank:
• Statistics Canada:
• Alberta-Canada (Immigration Information)
ISBN 978-1-4601-3235-7 (PDF)
ISSN 2368-9536 (PDF)
Published: February 2017