Labour force

According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey (LFS), the Capital region’s employment rate1 for the working age population of 15 years and older was 66.7% in 2010 and the participation rate2 was 71.5%.  By comparison, Alberta’s employment and participation rates were slightly higher at 68.1% and 72.9%, respectively, in 2010.

The region’s unemployment rate was 6.7% in 2010, the same as in 2009.  This rate is slightly higher than the provincial average of 6.5% for 2010. 

Between 2009 and 2010, the number of people employed in Alberta declined by 0.4% or by 8,600, after a 1.4% decline in 2009, due to the global recession.  In 2010, employment in the Capital region declined by an estimated 2,000.  In 2010, the Capital region made up 32% of Alberta’s working age population (15+ years). 

Between 2006 and 2010, the region’s working age population (15+) grew by 93,000, while employment rose 58,000. 

Between census years 2001 and 2006, the number of people employed in Alberta grew by 14.7% or by 239,800.  Over the same period, employment in the Capital region grew by an estimated 80,200 or 15.8%.  As the below table shows, employment increased strongly in the region between the 2006 census and 2008, but declined slightly in 2009 and 2010. 

Between 2009 and 2010, the number of people employed in Alberta declined by 0.4% or by 8,600, after a 1.4% decline in 2009, due to the global recession.  In 2010, employment in the Capital region declined by an estimated 2,000.  In 2010, the Capital region made up 32% of Alberta’s working age population (15+ years). 
Between 2006 and 2010, the region’s working age population (15+) grew by 93,000, while employment rose 58,000. 

Between census years 2001 and 2006, the number of people employed in Alberta grew by 14.7% or by 239,800.  Over the same period, employment in the Capital region grew by an estimated 80,200 or 15.8%.  As the below table shows, employment increased strongly in the region between the 2006 census and 2008, but declined slightly in 2009 and 2010. 

Employment Insurance Beneficiaries

In 2010, 14,900 people received regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits3 in the Capital region, a 4% decrease from the 2009 number of 15,600 4.  Over the same period, the number of EI recipients fell by 9% in Alberta.  As a result, the region’s share of Alberta EI recipients rose to 31.5%.  Between February 2010 and February 2011, the number of regular beneficiaries fell by an estimated 16% in the region.

The total number of income beneficiaries5 with both regular and special benefits, such as for sickness or parental leave, fell by 6% between 2009 and 2010.

Note: although this measure provides a useful gauge of unemployment it is an imperfect measure, as it excludes self-employed workers and individuals who were unemployed for more than 12 months.  At the Canadian level, the EI beneficiaries-to-unemployed ratio was fairly stable over time prior to the recession at between 40% and 45%. In Alberta, the ratio fell gradually during the economic boom years from more than 40% in 1996 to less than 25% in 2007 and the first nine months of 2008.  The ratio climbed to more than 40% in 2009 and was 36% in 2010.

Employment by Industry

In 2006, according to Statistics Canada’s census data, the services-producing sector in the Capital region accounted for about 73% of the total number employed.  By comparison, the service sector also accounted for 73% of Alberta’s employment.

The Retail Trade industry had the largest number of individuals employed.  This industry accounted for 11% of the region’s employment, identical to the industry’s 11% share at the provincial level.  The region’s next largest industries in 2006 were the Healthcare and Social Assistance sector accounting for about 10% of regional employment and the Construction sector for 9%.

Between 2001 and 2006, the Construction industry had the largest employment gain (up about 15,500).  The Construction industry’s gain was broad based, with residential construction recording the largest increase, as the number of housing starts doubled over that period.  Large gains of between 8,000 and 9,000 jobs each were also recorded in the Retail Trade, Healthcare and Social Assistance, and Mining and Oil and Gas sectors.  Employment declined in the Information and Cultural sector by just over 1,300.

According to the more up-to-date LFS estimates, employment in the Capital region’s goods-producing sector increased by almost 6,000 jobs in 2010 after a loss of about 13,000 jobs in the previous year.  The 2010 gain was the result of increased employment in the Construction sector.  Employment declined for a third consecutive year in the Manufacturing sector.  Service sector employment declined by nearly 8,000 jobs in 2010, with the largest losses recorded in the Retail Trade, Information, Culture and Recreation, and Public Administration industries.  The Healthcare and Social Assistance industry recorded solid job gains in 2010.


1 The employment rate measures the proportion of the adult population that is employed. Employment Rate = (Employed / Population 15+)*100. High labour utilization traditionally accompanies strong economic activity.
2 The participation rate measures the proportion of the adult population that is in the labour force. Participation Rate = (Labour Force / Population 15+)*100. High labour participation is an effective indicator of the level of engagement among the working age population and traditionally accompanies strong economic activity.
3 The number of beneficiaries receiving regular benefits excludes claimants receiving training, job creation and self-employment benefits as well as other employment and support measures benefits.
4 Some of this increase was the result of Canada’s Economic Action Plan providing beneficiaries with five extra weeks of regular EI benefits in 2009 and 2010.
5 The number of beneficiaries receiving total income benefits includes both the beneficiaries receiving regular benefits and those receiving special benefits, such as for training, job creation, sickness, parental.



 



 

Date Updated:
RDP-2483