Calgary Economic Region Workforce Insights

September, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 5,300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 59,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 1,500 jobs from the previous month and increased by 69,700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 3,800 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 10,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 5,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 15,700 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 1,500 jobs from last month and increased by 69,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 3,800 jobs from last month and decreased by 10,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 5,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 15,700 people compared to last year.

Scroll down to explore the data

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 5,300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 59,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 5,300 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 59,600 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 120,200 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 61,800 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 53,800 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 93.4% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 155,700 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 150,100 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 137,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 51.5% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 4,200 workers (decreased by 7.69%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 3,500 workers (increased by 2.3%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 2,900 workers (decreased by 6.13%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 2,300 workers (decreased by 3.38%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,700 workers (increased by 2.83%).

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 27,300 workers (increased by 21.26%).
  • Construction: Change of 23,300 workers (increased by 24.05%).
  • Public administration: Change of 13,400 workers (increased by 33.67%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 12,100 workers (decreased by 8.09%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 10,500 workers (increased by 20.47%).

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, Transportation and warehousing, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

July, 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: Airdrie, Beiseker, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, Crossfield, Irricana, Rocky View County.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment is 1,054,240 in July 2026, it contracted by 3,150 jobs from June and expanded by 66,660 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 67.0%. It decreased by 0.4 percentage points from June and rose by 2.3 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 6.6%. It fell by 0.3 percentage points month-over-month, and fell by 1.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in July 2026 was 1,054,240, showing a slight decrease of 3,150 from the previous month. Relative to July last year, employment levels gained 66,660, demonstrating resilience.

Scroll down to explore more data

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 67.0% in July 2026. This represents a decline of 0.4 percentage points from June (67.4%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 2.3 percentage points from 64.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.6% in July 2026, down 0.3 percentage points from June. Compared to July last year (8.1%), the rate has decreased by 1.5 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.97) between regional and local employment levels indicates very similar employment patterns at both geographic levels. This suggests that local employment closely follows regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.95) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.44 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: Airdrie, Beiseker, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, Crossfield, Irricana, Rocky View County.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

July, 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: Airdrie, Beiseker, Calgary, Chestermere, Cochrane, Crossfield, Irricana, Rocky View County.

Scroll down to explore the data

Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in July 2026 was 1,054,240, showing a slight decrease of 3,150 from the previous month. Relative to July last year, employment levels gained 66,660, demonstrating resilience.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 67.0% in July 2026. This represents a decline of 0.4 percentage points from June (67.4%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 2.3 percentage points from 64.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.6% in July 2026, down 0.3 percentage points from June. Compared to July last year (8.1%), the rate has decreased by 1.5 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.95) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

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

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.44 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 September, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 1,500 jobs from last month and increased by 69,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 3,800 jobs from last month and decreased by 10,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 5,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 15,700 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 5,300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 59,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 5,300 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 59,600 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 120,200 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 61,800 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 53,800 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 93.4% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 155,700 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 150,100 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 137,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 51.5% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 4,200 workers (decreased by 7.69%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 3,500 workers (increased by 2.3%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 2,900 workers (decreased by 6.13%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 2,300 workers (decreased by 3.38%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,700 workers (increased by 2.83%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 27,300 workers (increased by 21.26%).
  • Construction: Change of 23,300 workers (increased by 24.05%).
  • Public administration: Change of 13,400 workers (increased by 33.67%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 12,100 workers (decreased by 8.09%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 10,500 workers (increased by 20.47%).

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 September, 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, Transportation and warehousing, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 5th with an employment rate of 67.0%. The provincial range is 49.3% to 73.2%, with half of areas between 58.8% and 63.5% (median: 60.8%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 35th with an unemployment rate of 6.6%. The provincial range is 5.0% to 9.1%, with half of areas between 5.9% and 6.9% (median: 6.4%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey September, 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