Establishments with employees

In 2010, the North East Region had 5,227 establishments with employees, making up 3.6% of all establishments with employees in Alberta.  Of these establishments, 5,053 or 96.7% were small companies with between 1 and 49 employees. Micro-businesses with fewer than five employees have a 60.9% share of the region’s total number of companies and large companies with 50 or more employees have a 3.3% share, compared to the 4.4% Alberta average.

Number of Establishments by Employee Size in 2010: North East Region and Alberta

Between 2005 and 2010, there was an increase of 5.2% (or 59 companies) in the total number of businesses in the North East Region and a 6.0% increase (or 84 companies) in the number of small businesses.  By comparison, at the provincial level, the total number of businesses increased by 2.3% and small companies experienced an increase of 3.4% over the same period.

In the North East Region, nearly 70% of companies with employees were involved in Service Industries as of 2010.  The total number of companies in service industries increased by 4.1% over the past five years, while the goods industry had a 7.9% increase over the same period. 

Utilities and Construction is the largest industry in the region, making up 12.6% of establishments with employees in the North East Region.  By comparison, 13.8% of establishments with employees are engaged in the Utilities and Construction industry at the provincial level.  Construction companies account for about 98% of the Utilities and Construction industry in this region.  Other large industries are Retail Trade, Other Services (mainly repair and maintenance), and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.

Over the past five years, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry experienced the highest growth in the number of businesses, up 22.8% between 2005 and 2010.  Other industries with more than 10% growth over the past five years include: Utilities and Construction (up 15.8%); Information, Culture, Recreation and Arts; Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction; Education; and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.  The Wholesale Trade; and Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing had sizeable declines in the number of establishments over the same period.

Date Updated:
RDP-2338