Calgary Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 20,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 8,100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 7,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 6,300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 13,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 900 people from the previous month and decreased by 9,200 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 8,100 jobs from last month and increased by 7,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 6,300 jobs from last month and increased by 13,500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 900 people from the previous month and decreased by 9,200 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate decreased by 1.9 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 20,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 1,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 20,500 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 91,100 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 58,300 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 46,400 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

  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 146,000 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 141,900 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 135,900 workers.

In the Services sector, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade lead employment, representing 50.3% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 10,800 workers (decreased by 7.36%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 8,000 workers (increased by 5.97%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 3,500 workers (increased by 5.38%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 3,200 workers (decreased by 2.14%).
  • Educational services: Change of 3,000 workers (increased by 4.55%).

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 12,300 workers (decreased by 8.3%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 9,600 workers (increased by 32.32%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 9,200 workers (increased by 6.73%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 9,200 workers (decreased by 23.17%).
  • Public administration: Change of 8,800 workers (increased by 26.43%).

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, Professional, scientific and technical services, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment registered 1,006,850 in November 2025, it gained 4,520 jobs from October and improved by 38,750 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 65.2%. It grew of 0.1 percentage points from October and declined by 0.0 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 6.4%. It contracted by 0.5 percentage points month-over-month, and decreased by 1.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in November 2025 was 1,006,850, showing a minor increase of 4,520. from November, employment levels improved by 38,750, demonstrating resilience.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 65.2% in November 2025. This represents a rise of 0.1 percentage points from October (65.1%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.0 percentage points from 65.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.4% in November 2025, down 0.5 percentage points from October. Compared to November last year (7.5%), the rate has decreased by 1.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.64) 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 moderate correlation (0.31) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.51 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

Calgary consists of the following communities: Combined Calgary Areas .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment unemployment rates estimates at "small-area" level.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in November 2025 was 1,006,850, showing a minor increase of 4,520. from November, employment levels improved by 38,750, demonstrating resilience.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 65.2% in November 2025. This represents a rise of 0.1 percentage points from October (65.1%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.0 percentage points from 65.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.4% in November 2025, down 0.5 percentage points from October. Compared to November last year (7.5%), the rate has decreased by 1.1 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.31) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

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

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.51 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 January, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 8,100 jobs from last month and increased by 7,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 6,300 jobs from last month and increased by 13,500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 900 people from the previous month and decreased by 9,200 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate decreased by 1.9 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 20,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 1,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 20,500 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 91,100 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 58,300 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 46,400 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

  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 146,000 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 141,900 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 135,900 workers.

In the Services sector, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade lead employment, representing 50.3% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 10,800 workers (decreased by 7.36%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 8,000 workers (increased by 5.97%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 3,500 workers (increased by 5.38%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 3,200 workers (decreased by 2.14%).
  • Educational services: Change of 3,000 workers (increased by 4.55%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 12,300 workers (decreased by 8.3%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 9,600 workers (increased by 32.32%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 9,200 workers (increased by 6.73%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 9,200 workers (decreased by 23.17%).
  • Public administration: Change of 8,800 workers (increased by 26.43%).

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 January, 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, Professional, scientific and technical services, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 8th with an employment rate of 65.2%. The provincial range is 50.0% to 70.6%, with half of areas between 58.5% and 63.1% (median: 60.4%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 45th with an unemployment rate of 6.4%. The provincial range is 4.9% to 11.8%, with half of areas between 5.3% and 6.4% (median: 5.8%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey January, 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