Economic Indicators - Employment - Economic Development Data Platform

Calgary Economic Region Workforce Insights

May, 2026

Key Insights

Employment increased by 15,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 74,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment increased by 18,600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 74,400 jobs year-over-year.
Part-time Employment decreased by 2,600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 400 jobs year-over-year.
Unemployment increased by 4,300 people from the previous month and decreased by 4,900 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 18,600 jobs from last month and increased by 74,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,600 jobs from last month and increased by 400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 4,300 people from the previous month and decreased by 4,900 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 2.5 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate increased by 2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 15,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 74,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 15,900 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 74,800 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

Construction: 99,000 workers.
Manufacturing: 64,600 workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 47,000 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 92% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

Health care and social assistance: 155,400 workers.
Wholesale and retail trade: 138,300 workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services: 134,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 48.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 5,600 workers (increased by 4.22%).
Educational services: Change of 3,800 workers (increased by 5.77%).
Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 3,400 workers (decreased by 2.46%).
Transportation and warehousing: Change of 2,600 workers (increased by 3.71%).
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 2,500 workers (decreased by 3.23%).

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 25,300 workers (increased by 19.45%).
Manufacturing: Change of 15,300 workers (increased by 31.03%).
Business, building and other support services: Change of 12,700 workers (increased by 39.56%).
Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 10,400 workers (decreased by 7.17%).
Information, culture and recreation: Change of 9,200 workers (increased by 24.34%).

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

March, 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 registered 1,028,540 in March 2026, it rose by 4,680 jobs from February and grew by 69,120 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate registered 66.0%. It rose by 0.2 percentage points from February and went up by 2.3 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate is 7.2%. It increased by 0.6 percentage points month-over-month, and fell by 1.0 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in March 2026 was 1,028,540, showing a slight increase of 4,680 from the previous month. Relative to March last year, employment levels showed an uptick of 69,120, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 66.0% in March 2026. This represents a rise of 0.2 percentage points from February (65.8%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 2.3 percentage points from 63.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.2% in March 2026, up 0.6 percentage points from February. Compared to March last year (8.2%), the rate has decreased by 1.0 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (0.19) between regional and local employment levels indicates relatively independent employment patterns. This suggests that local employment dynamics are largely independent from regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.06) 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 0.51 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

March, 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.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in March 2026 was 1,028,540, showing a slight increase of 4,680 from the previous month. Relative to March last year, employment levels showed an uptick of 69,120, showing strength.

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

Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 66.0% in March 2026. This represents a rise of 0.2 percentage points from February (65.8%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 2.3 percentage points from 63.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.2% in March 2026, up 0.6 percentage points from February. Compared to March last year (8.2%), the rate has decreased by 1.0 percentage points.

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

Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

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

Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 18,600 jobs from last month and increased by 74,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,600 jobs from last month and increased by 400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 4,300 people from the previous month and decreased by 4,900 people compared to last year.

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

Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 2.5 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate increased by 2 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 15,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 74,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 15,900 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 74,800 jobs.

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

Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

Construction: 99,000 workers.
Manufacturing: 64,600 workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 47,000 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 92% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

Health care and social assistance: 155,400 workers.
Wholesale and retail trade: 138,300 workers.
Professional, scientific and technical services: 134,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 48.7% of the sector's workforce.

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

Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 5,600 workers (increased by 4.22%).
Educational services: Change of 3,800 workers (increased by 5.77%).
Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 3,400 workers (decreased by 2.46%).
Transportation and warehousing: Change of 2,600 workers (increased by 3.71%).
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 2,500 workers (decreased by 3.23%).

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

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

Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

Health care and social assistance: Change of 25,300 workers (increased by 19.45%).
Manufacturing: Change of 15,300 workers (increased by 31.03%).
Business, building and other support services: Change of 12,700 workers (increased by 39.56%).
Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 10,400 workers (decreased by 7.17%).
Information, culture and recreation: Change of 9,200 workers (increased by 24.34%).

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 May, 2026

Economic region

Conclusion

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 6th with an employment rate of 66.0%. The provincial range is 46.2% to 69.4%, with half of areas between 57.5% and 62.2% (median: 59.4%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 50th with an unemployment rate of 7.2%. The provincial range is 5.4% to 12.5%, with half of areas between 6.1% and 7.0% (median: 6.5%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 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