Economic Indicators - Employment - Economic Development Data Platform

Calgary Economic Region Workforce Insights

February, 2026

Key Insights

Employment increased by 8,500 jobs from the previous month and increased by 23,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment increased by 10,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 14,800 jobs year-over-year.
Part-time Employment decreased by 1,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 8,700 jobs year-over-year.
Unemployment increased by 900 people from the previous month and decreased by 6,200 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 10,200 jobs from last month and increased by 14,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 1,700 jobs from last month and increased by 8,700 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 900 people from the previous month and decreased by 6,200 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.9 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 1.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 8,500 jobs from the previous month and increased by 23,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 8,500 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 23,500 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

Construction: 94,000 workers.
Manufacturing: 60,500 workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 45,800 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 93% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

Health care and social assistance: 152,100 workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services: 143,300 workers.
Wholesale and retail trade: 128,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Professional, scientific and technical services, Wholesale and retail trade lead employment, representing 50.2% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

Health care and social assistance: Change of 10,200 workers (increased by 7.19%).
Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 7,200 workers (decreased by 5.3%).
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 4,700 workers (increased by 6.86%).
Construction: Change of 2,900 workers (increased by 3.18%).
Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 1.85%).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 18,700 workers (decreased by 12.69%).
Health care and social assistance: Change of 16,700 workers (increased by 12.33%).
Business, building and other support services: Change of 12,500 workers (increased by 44.48%).
Other services (except public administration): Change of 11,200 workers (decreased by 27.32%).
Accommodation and food services: Change of 10,600 workers (increased by 21.59%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Conclusion

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. Key industries driving the trend are: Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

December, 2025

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Calgary SLA consists of the following communities: Rocky View County, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, Airdrie, Irricana, Beiseker, Crossfield, Tsuu T'ina Nation 145.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

Total local employment stands at 1,007,540 in December 2025, it grew by 690 jobs from November and expanded by 20,170 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate stands at 65.0%. It decreased by 0.2 percentage points from November and fell by 1.3 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate reached 6.2%. It declined by 0.2 percentage points month-over-month, and went down by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 1,007,540, showing a marginal increase of 690 from the previous month. Relative to December last year, employment levels expanded by 20,170, demonstrating resilience.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 65.0% in December 2025. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from November (65.2%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.3 percentage points from 66.3%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.2% in December 2025, down 0.2 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (6.8%), the rate has decreased by 0.6 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.62) between regional and local employment levels indicates some alignment in employment trends. This suggests that local employment partially reflects regional patterns.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.26) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.65 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

Calgary SLA consists of the following communities: Rocky View County, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, Airdrie, Irricana, Beiseker, Crossfield, Tsuu T'ina Nation 145.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

December, 2025

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level

Calgary SLA consists of the following communities: Rocky View County, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, Airdrie, Irricana, Beiseker, Crossfield, Tsuu T'ina Nation 145.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 65.0% in December 2025. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from November (65.2%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.3 percentage points from 66.3%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.2% in December 2025, down 0.2 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (6.8%), the rate has decreased by 0.6 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.65 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 10,200 jobs from last month and increased by 14,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 1,700 jobs from last month and increased by 8,700 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 900 people from the previous month and decreased by 6,200 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.9 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 1.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 8,500 jobs from the previous month and increased by 23,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 8,500 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 23,500 jobs.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

Construction: 94,000 workers.
Manufacturing: 60,500 workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 45,800 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 93% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

Health care and social assistance: 152,100 workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services: 143,300 workers.
Wholesale and retail trade: 128,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Professional, scientific and technical services, Wholesale and retail trade lead employment, representing 50.2% of the sector's workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

Health care and social assistance: Change of 10,200 workers (increased by 7.19%).
Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 7,200 workers (decreased by 5.3%).
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 4,700 workers (increased by 6.86%).
Construction: Change of 2,900 workers (increased by 3.18%).
Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 1.85%).

These industries saw the largest month-over-month changes, indicating short-term trends.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 18,700 workers (decreased by 12.69%).
Health care and social assistance: Change of 16,700 workers (increased by 12.33%).
Business, building and other support services: Change of 12,500 workers (increased by 44.48%).
Other services (except public administration): Change of 11,200 workers (decreased by 27.32%).
Accommodation and food services: Change of 10,600 workers (increased by 21.59%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Economic region

Conclusion

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 8th with an employment rate of 65.0%. The provincial range is 51.1% to 69.6%, with half of areas between 58.7% and 63.3% (median: 60.6%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 30th with an unemployment rate of 6.2%. The provincial range is 4.6% to 11.3%, with half of areas between 5.7% and 6.7% (median: 6.2%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey February, 2026

Recruitment and Retention

Remote Work as Incentive

Anticipated to work remotely

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (geography)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization size)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization type)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by business size

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by organization type

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by geography

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (geography)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization size)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization type)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by business size

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by organization type

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by geography

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions