Employment ALBERTA S HOT ECONOMY CONTINUES TO PRODUCE HIGH EMPLOYMENT GROWTH IN 2007 The number of employed Albertans in 2007 increased by 88,775, higher than the 2006 growth of 86,240. The economy also contributed to significant job creation in 2007; 78,986 full-time and 9,789 part-time positions were created for a total of 88,775 new jobs. With only about 10% of Canada s working age population, Alberta created 23.2% of the nation s new jobs. Ontario, with about 39% of Canada s working age population, created 26.5% of new jobs in Canada. (See Figure 1) Provincial and National Employment, 2007 Province Province Employment Employment Employment Employment Change Change % of % nationwide of nationwide employment employment change change Alberta Alberta 1,959,445 1,959,445 88,775 88,775 23.2% 23.2% British British Columbia Columbia 2,266,341 2,266,341 70,890 70,890 18.6% 18.6% Manitoba Manitoba 596,477 596,477 9,487 9,487 2.5% 2.5% New New Brunswick Brunswick 362,820 362,820 7,409 7,409 1.9% 1.9% Newfoundland Newfoundland and and Labrador Labrador 217,149 217,149 1,498 1,498 0.4% 0.4% Nova Nova Scotia Scotia 447,599 447,599 5,774 5,774 1.5% 1.5% Ontario Ontario 6,593,778 6,593,788 101,066 101,066 26.5% 26.5% Prince Prince Edward Edward Island Island 69,340 69,340 735 735 0.2% 0.2% Québec Quˇ bec 3,851,713 3,851,713 86,269 86,269 22.6% 22.6% Saskatchewan 501,757 501,757 10,181 10,181 2.7% 2.7% Canada Canada 16,866,419 16,866,419 382,083 382,083 Figure 1 Alberta and Canada Employment Rates 1, 2003-2007 Employment Rate Employment Rate 8 7 8 6 7 5 6 4 5 3 4 2 3 1 2 1 69.8% 70.1% 69.8% 70.8% 71.5% 69.8% 62.4% 70.1% 62.7% 69.8% 62.7% 70.8% 63% 71.5% 63.5% 62.4% 62.7% 62.7% 63.0% 63.5% Alberta Canada Alberta Canada Figure 2 02 1 The employment rate measures the number of people employed out of the working age population (15+ years).
ALBERTA S EMPLOYMENT GROWTH DOUBLES NATIONAL AVERAGE Alberta s employment rate the percentage of the working age population (15+ years) that is employed was the highest in Canada. In 2007, Alberta s employment rate was 71.5% compared to the national rate of 63.5%. (See Figure 2) In the last year, there were 1,959,445 Albertans and 16,866,419 Canadians employed. Growth in Employment 5.5% 5.0% 4.5% 4.0% 3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 1.5% 1.0% 0.5% 2,000,000 1,950,000 1,900,000 2.7% 2.4% Alberta s employment increased by 4.7%, while Canada s increased by 2.3% from 2006 to 2007. From 2003 to 2007, the number of people employed in Alberta increased from 1,716,660 to 1,959,445, for an average annual increase of 60,696. The largest year-to-year increase occurred between 2006 and 2007. (See Figure 3 and 4) Alberta Annual Average Growth in Employment, 2003-2007 1.5% 4.8% Alberta Annual Average Employment, 2003-2007 4.7% Figure 3 Employment 1,850,000 1,800,000 1,750,000 1,700,000 1,650,000 1,600,000 1,550,000 0 Figure 4 NOTE: The slanted lines are used to represent a discontinuity in the employment numbers and to display the finer details of the differences between the first and last data points. 03
Unemployment ALBERTA S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY Alberta enjoyed Canada s lowest unemployment rate 2 of 3.5%, followed by Saskatchewan and British Columbia at 4.2%. The national average unemployment rate was 6.0%. (See Figure 5) In 2007, 31 of 53 major occupational groups in the province had an unemployment rate of less than 3.0%, which reflects skill shortages. According to Alberta s Occupational Demand and Supply Outlook (2007-2017), Alberta may experience a labour shortage as high as 111,000 workers in the next 10 years. The labour market is expected to grow by 441,000 while 330,000 workers are expected to join the labour force. Provincial and National Unemployment Rates, 2007 15.0% 13.6% Unemployment Rate 1 5.0% 3.5% 4.2% 4.2% 4.4% 6.4% 7.2% 7.5% 8.0% 10.3% 6.0% Alberta British Columbia Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Québec New Brunswick Nova Scotia P.E.I. Newfoundland and Labrador Canada 1 Alberta and Canada Unemployment Rates, 2003-2007 Figure 5 Unemployment Rate 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 5.1% 7.6% 4.6% 7.2% 3.9% 6.8% 3.4% 6.3% 3.5% 6.0% Alberta Canada Figure 6 04 2 The unemployment rate measures the number of people in the labour force who are unemployed. The labour force includes individuals who are employed or unemployed and looking for work.
Economic Regions MOST REGIONS IN ALBERTA EXPERIENCED UNPRECEDENTED EMPLOYMENT GROWTH The Edmonton economic region led employment growth with 38,700 additional jobs in 2007. The Calgary economic region added the next highest number of jobs at 31,200. The Camrose-Drumheller, Red Deer, and Calgary economic regions had the lowest unemployment rates at 3.2% in 2007. The Red Deer and Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake economic regions saw the largest drop in unemployment with a decline of 0.6% between 2006 and 2007. In 2007, the unemployment rate was 3.8% in the Edmonton economic region and 3.2% in the Calgary economic region. (See Figure 7 and 8) Northern Economic Region Unemployment Rates in Alberta, 2003-2007 Unemployment Rate 6.0% 5.0% 4.0% 3.0% 2.0% 1.0% Red Deer Edmonton Athabasca - Grande Prairie - Peace River Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake Figure 7 6.0% Southern Economic Region Unemployment Rates in Alberta, 2003-2007 Unemployment Rate 5.0% 4.0% 3.0% 2.0% 1.0% Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Camrose - Drumheller Calgary Banff - Jasper - Rocky Mountain House Figure 8 NOTE: In 2005, 2006, and 2007, the Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House economic region s unemployment rates were not released due to insufficient data. 05
Migration ALBERTA S STRONG ECONOMY ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN 2006 Alberta received a net gain of 81,480 people in 2006 through migration. Of these, 58,166 were interprovincial migrants, the highest number in the past 25 years. (See Figure 9) In 2006, Alberta received 20,717 landed immigrants. The number of landed immigrants to Alberta has been rising since 2002. (See Figure 10) 140,000 120,000 Alberta Interprovincial Migration, 2002-2006 121,922 Number of People 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 69,028 68,620 59,485 51,145 49,231 49,272 17,883 19,348 10,254 91,210 46,242 44,968 63,756 58,166 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 In-Migration Out-Migration Net Interprovincial Migration Data Source: Statistics Canada Figure 9 Alberta Landed Immigrants, 2002-2006 25,000 Number of People 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Data Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada Figure 10 06
Aboriginal People ABORIGINAL PEOPLE LIVING OFF-RESERVE EXPERIENCED HIGH EMPLOYMENT GROWTH Employment for the off-reserve Aboriginal population rose to 65,900 in 2007, an increase of 3,100 from 2006. The largest percentage, 35.5%, was employed in the Edmonton economic region. (See Figure 11) Alberta Aboriginal People Living Off-Reserve Employment by Economic Region, 2007 Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake Athabasca - Grande Prairie - Peace River 14.7% 4.4% 10.8% Camrose - Drumheller 3.6% Edmonton 35.6% Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Red Deer 3.8% Calgary 23.4% Banff - Jasper - Rocky Mountain House 3.6% Figure 11 The employment rate for Aboriginal people living off-reserve continued to rise in 2007. (See Figure 12) Increases in employment for Aboriginal people living off-reserve were largest in Edmonton (2,800 or 13.6%), Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House (800 or 50%), and Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake (500 or 7.6%) economic regions. Economic regions outside of Edmonton and Calgary accounted for 27,100 employed Aboriginal people living off-reserve. The industries employing the largest number of Aboriginal people remained the same as 2006. They were Retail Trade, 9,100; Construction, 8,200; and Health Care and Social Assistance, 6,900. The 2007 unemployment rate stood at 7.7% for the off-reserve Aboriginal people. Alberta Aboriginal People Living Off-Reserve Employment Rates, 2005-2007 Employment Rate 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 64.2% 69.8% 70.8% 65.6% 66.8% 71.5% 1 2005 2006 2007 Aboriginal All Albertans Figure 12 07
Industries EMPLOYMENT GROWTH STRONGEST IN SERVICES-PRODUCING INDUSTRIES The Services-Producing industries in Alberta experienced more job growth than the Goods-Producing industries in 2007. Employment for the former increased by 50,632 compared to 38,142 for the latter. Industries that led employment gains were: Construction, 20,507; Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction, 11,263; and Management, Administrative and Other Support, 11,256. (See Figure 13) The top three industries with the largest percentage increase in employment between 2006 and 2007 were: Management, Administrative and Other Support, 18.0%; Forestry and Logging with Support Activities, 15.4%; and Utilities, 14.4%. Figure 13 reports these changes, in descending order of the numbers employed. Alberta Industry Labour Force Statistics, 2007 Industry Group 2007 Employment Change in Employment Unemployment Rate Industry Group 2007 Employment Change in Employment Unemployment Rate Retail Trade 211,737-196 3.6% Retail Trade 211,737-196 3.6% Construction 193,084 20,507 3.3% Construction 193,084 20,507 3.3% Health Care and Social Assistance 189,465 9,916 1.6% Health Care and Social Assistance 189,465 9,916 1.6% Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction 146,889 11,263 2.5% Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction 146,889 11,263 2.5% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 146,253 4,017 1.7% Professional, Manufacturing Scientific and Technical Services 142,933 146,253 5,384 4,017 2.7% 1.7% Manufacturing Educational Services 130,005 142,933-388 5,384 2.8% 2.7% Educational Accommodation Services and Food Service 116,766 130,005 1,916-388 6.2% 2.8% Accommodation Transportation and and Warehousing Food Services 105,745 116,766-456 1,916 2.5% 6.2% Transportation Finance, Insurance, and Warehousing Real Estate and Leasing 98,429 105,745 2,265-456 2.1% 2.5% Finance, Other Services Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing 94,871 98,429 6,929 2,265 2.9% 2.1% Other Public Services Administration 80,143 94,871-936 6,929 N/A 2.9% Public Wholesale Administration Trade 78,895 80,143 8,426-936 2.0% N/A Wholesale Information, Trade Culture and Recreation 76,207 78,895 7,883 8,426 3.7% 2.0% Information, Management, Culture Administrative and Recreation and Other Support 73,913 76,207 11,256 7,883 4.0% 3.7% Management, Agriculture Administrative and Other Support 50,449 73,913-1,863 11,256 N/A 4.0% Agriculture Utilities 19,554 50,449 2,464-1,863 N/A Utilities Forestry and Logging with Support Activities 4,051 19,554 541 2,464 N/A Forestry and Logging with Support Activities 4,051 541 N/A Figure 13 NOTE: The unemployment rates for Public Administration, Agriculture, Utilities, and Forestry and Logging with Support Activities were not released due to insufficient data. 08
Occupations LARGEST EMPLOYMENT INCREASE IN TRADES, TRANSPORT AND EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS The occupational groups employing the greatest number of people were Sales and Service Occupations, 441,941; Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related Occupations, 366,438; and Business, Finance and Administration Occupations, 349,858. (See Figure 14) The occupational group in Alberta that experienced the largest increase in employment was Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related Occupations group at 25,925. Employment gain made in this occupational group was driven by increased construction projects in the province. The next top two employment increases were in Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Occupations, 15,242; and in Sales and Service Occupations, 15,203. Alberta Labour Force Statistics by Major Occupational Groups, 2007 Occupational Occupational Groups Groups 2007 Employment 2007 EmploymentChange Change in Employment in Employment Unemployment Rate Rate Sales Sales and and Service Service Occupations 441,941 441,941 15,203 15203 4.2% Trades, Trades, Transport Transport and Equipment and Equipment Operators Operators and Related and Related Occupations Occupations 366,438 366,438 25,925 25925 3.6% 3.6% Business, Finance and Administrative Occupations 349,858 11,605 2.3% Business, Finance and Administrative Occupations 349,858 11605 2.3% Management Occupations 158,316 2,983 0.8% Natural Management and Applied Occupations Sciences and Related Occupations 155,140158,316 15,242 2983 0.8% 1.9% Occupations Natural and in Social Applied Science, Sciences Education, and Related Government Occupations Services and Religion 145,056155,140 1,310 15242 1.9% 2.2% Occupations Unique in Social to Primary Science, Industry Education, Government Services and Religion 115,275145,056 5,031 1310 2.2% 2.5% Health Occupations 105,355 3,507 1.0% Occupations Unique to Primary Industry 115,275 5031 2.5% Occupations Unique to Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities 70,964-1,611 2.7% Occupations Health Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport 51,117105,355 9,144 3507 1.0% 1.5% Occupations unique to Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities 70,964 (1611) 2.7% Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport 51,117 9144 1.5% Figure 14 09
Education MORE ALBERTANS IN THE LABOUR FORCE OBTAIN POST- SECONDARY ACCREDITATIONS In 2007, 63.4% of the Alberta s labour force had a university degree, a postsecondary certificate or diploma, or some post-secondary education, up from the 61.3% in 2006. There were, on average, 8.7% more people in Alberta s labour force with a university bachelor s degree than with a university graduate degree between 2003 and 2007. (See Figure 15) The percentage of high school graduates in the labour force increased from 22.4% to 22.7% from 2003 to 2007. Alberta Labour Force Educational Attainment Trends, 2003-2007 Education Level Education 0 to 8 Years Level 2003 2.5% 20042.1% 2005 2.0% 1.8% 2006 1.7% 2007 0 to Some 8 years Secondary 2.5% 13.8% 2.1% 13.7% 12.3% 2.0% 13.2% 1.8% 12.2% 1.7% High School Diploma 22.4% 22.9% 23.2% 23.6% 22.7% Some secondary 13.8% 13.7% 12.3% 13.2% 12.2% Some Post-Secondary 10.3% 10.4% 9.1% 8.4% 9.5% High Post-Secondary school diploma Certificate or Diploma 22.4% 33.1% 22.9% 33.3% 33.0% 23.2% 32.1% 23.6% 33.6% 22.7% Some University: post-secondary Bachelor s Degree 10.3% 13.0% 10.4% 12.8% 14.9% 9.1% 15.0% 8.4% 14.6% 9.5% University: Graduate Degree Post-secondary certificate or diploma 4.9% 33.1% 4.9% 33.3% 5.4% 33.0% 5.8% 32.1% 5.7% 33.6% University: bachelor's degree 13.0% 12.8% 14.9% 15.0% 14.6% University: graduate degree 4.9% 4.9% 5.4% 5.8% Figure 5.7% 15 10
Demographics MORE ALBERTANS IN ALL AGE GROUPS WERE EMPLOYED IN 2007 Albertans between 25-44 years of age accounted for 45.7% of those employed, while people aged 45-64 years represented 34.7%. Alberta s employment rose the most within these two groups, by 39,268 and 32,941 respectively in 2007. There were 7,367 more people employed in the 15-24 years age category between 2006 and 2007. (See Figure 16) Alberta Employment by Age Group, 2006-2007 Age Group (year) 65+ 45 to 64 25 to 44 15 to 24 2007 2006 Employment Rate 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 800,000 900,000 1,000,000 Employment The 65+ age group experienced the largest rise in employment rates, 1.7 percentage points, between 2006 and 2007. 65.4% 67.2% Alberta Employment Rates by Age Group, 2005-2007 66.9% 84.3% 85.2% 85.8% 77.9% 78.7% 79.5% 11.3% 11.9% 15 to 24 25 to 44 45 to 64 65+ Age Group Figure 16 In 2007, approximately 15,025 Albertans retired, 4,100 more than in 2006. (See Figure 17) 13.6% 2005 2006 2007 Figure 17 11