Calgary Economic Region Workforce Insights

July, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 4,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 56,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 16,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 57,900 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 11,900 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 1,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 3,800 people from the previous month and decreased by 5,400 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 16,800 jobs from last month and increased by 57,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 11,900 jobs from last month and decreased by 1,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 3,800 people from the previous month and decreased by 5,400 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 4,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 56,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 4,900 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 56,900 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 112,100 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 59,400 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 54,800 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 91.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 150,700 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 144,700 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 137,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 49.3% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Construction: Change of 8,800 workers (increased by 8.52%).
  • Educational services: Change of 5,000 workers (decreased by 7.29%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 3,100 workers (increased by 6%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 2,900 workers (decreased by 4.57%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 5.81%).

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 22,800 workers (increased by 17.83%).
  • Construction: Change of 13,300 workers (increased by 13.46%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 13,100 workers (decreased by 8.69%).
  • Public administration: Change of 11,200 workers (increased by 27.86%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 6,700 workers (increased by 12.43%).

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, Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, Professional, scientific and technical services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

May, 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 1,046,980 in May 2026, it grew by 12,610 jobs from April and improved by 49,040 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate registered 66.9%. It increased by 0.7 percentage points from April and went up by 1.1 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate is 7.2%. It increased by 0.1 percentage points month-over-month, and fell by 0.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in May 2026 was 1,046,980, showing a moderate increase of 12,610 from the previous month. Relative to May last year, employment levels increased by 49,040, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 66.9% in May 2026. This represents a rise of 0.7 percentage points from April (66.2%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.1 percentage points from 65.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.2% in May 2026, up 0.1 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (7.7%), the rate has decreased by 0.5 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.70) 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 (0.43) 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 0.53 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

May, 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 May 2026 was 1,046,980, showing a moderate increase of 12,610 from the previous month. Relative to May last year, employment levels increased by 49,040, showing strength.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 66.9% in May 2026. This represents a rise of 0.7 percentage points from April (66.2%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 1.1 percentage points from 65.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.2% in May 2026, up 0.1 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (7.7%), the rate has decreased by 0.5 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.43) 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 July, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.53 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 July, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 16,800 jobs from last month and increased by 57,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 11,900 jobs from last month and decreased by 1,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 3,800 people from the previous month and decreased by 5,400 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.1 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 4,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 56,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 4,900 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 56,900 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 112,100 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 59,400 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 54,800 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, which together account for 91.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Health care and social assistance: 150,700 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade: 144,700 workers.
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: 137,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade, Professional, scientific and technical services lead employment, representing 49.3% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Construction: Change of 8,800 workers (increased by 8.52%).
  • Educational services: Change of 5,000 workers (decreased by 7.29%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 3,100 workers (increased by 6%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 2,900 workers (decreased by 4.57%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 5.81%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 22,800 workers (increased by 17.83%).
  • Construction: Change of 13,300 workers (increased by 13.46%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 13,100 workers (decreased by 8.69%).
  • Public administration: Change of 11,200 workers (increased by 27.86%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 6,700 workers (increased by 12.43%).

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 July, 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 July, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Calgary ranks 10th with an employment rate of 66.9%. The provincial range is 48.8% to 76.1%, with half of areas between 60.0% and 65.1% (median: 62.8%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 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 11.1%, with half of areas between 6.2% and 7.0% (median: 6.5%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 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