Calgary Economic Region Workforce Insights

March, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 14,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 52,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 16,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 43,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 2,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 8,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 7,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 4,500 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 16,700 jobs from last month and increased by 43,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,000 jobs from last month and increased by 8,500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 7,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 4,500 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate increased by 0.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 14,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 52,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 14,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 52,100 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 98,800 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 63,900 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 45,000 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 93.5% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 156,300 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 138,200 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 128,900 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Professional, scientific and technical services, Wholesale and retail trade lead employment, representing 49.6% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 5,400 workers (increased by 7.38%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 5,100 workers (decreased by 3.56%).
  • Construction: Change of 4,800 workers (increased by 5.11%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 4,200 workers (increased by 2.76%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 3,400 workers (increased by 5.62%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 25,500 workers (increased by 19.5%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 14,600 workers (increased by 29.61%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 13,200 workers (decreased by 9.29%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 12,300 workers (increased by 43.77%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 11,300 workers (increased by 23.01%).

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

January, 2026

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 1,007,000 in January 2026, it fell by 540 jobs from December and grew by 27,450 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 64.9%. It decreased by 0.1 percentage points from December and decreased by 0.6 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 7.4%. It increased by 1.2 percentage points month-over-month, and went up by 0.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in January 2026 was 1,007,000, showing a minor decrease of 540 from the previous month. Compared to January last year, employment levels improved by 27,450, demonstrating resilience.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 64.9% in January 2026. This represents a decline of 0.1 percentage points from December (65.0%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points from 65.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.4% in January 2026, up 1.2 percentage points from December. Compared to January last year (7.2%), the rate has increased by 0.2 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.59) 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 (0.27) 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 0.54 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

January, 2026

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

Total employment in January 2026 was 1,007,000, showing a minor decrease of 540 from the previous month. Compared to January last year, employment levels improved by 27,450, demonstrating resilience.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 64.9% in January 2026. This represents a decline of 0.1 percentage points from December (65.0%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points from 65.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.4% in January 2026, up 1.2 percentage points from December. Compared to January last year (7.2%), the rate has increased by 0.2 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.27) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.54 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 March, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 16,700 jobs from last month and increased by 43,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,000 jobs from last month and increased by 8,500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 7,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 4,500 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2026
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate increased by 0.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2026
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 14,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 52,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 14,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 52,100 jobs.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2026
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 98,800 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 63,900 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 45,000 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 93.5% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 156,300 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 138,200 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 128,900 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Professional, scientific and technical services, Wholesale and retail trade lead employment, representing 49.6% of the sector's workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 5,400 workers (increased by 7.38%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 5,100 workers (decreased by 3.56%).
  • Construction: Change of 4,800 workers (increased by 5.11%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 4,200 workers (increased by 2.76%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 3,400 workers (increased by 5.62%).

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

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey March, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 25,500 workers (increased by 19.5%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 14,600 workers (increased by 29.61%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 13,200 workers (decreased by 9.29%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 12,300 workers (increased by 43.77%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 11,300 workers (increased by 23.01%).

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 March, 2026
Economic region

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.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 7th with an employment rate of 64.9%. The provincial range is 48.2% to 70.4%, with half of areas between 57.8% and 62.7% (median: 59.9%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 51st with an unemployment rate of 7.4%. The provincial range is 4.5% to 11.6%, with half of areas between 5.8% and 7.1% (median: 6.2%).

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

Recruitment and Retention

Remote Work as Incentive

Anticipated to work remotely

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

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

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