Skilled and productive workforce

Businesses in Alberta have the advantage of drawing upon a skilled labour pool. In 2010:

  • Of Alberta's labour force aged twenty-five years and older, 63.7% reported holding a university degree or post-secondary diploma or certificate.
  • Alberta had the highest labour force participation rate among the provinces at 72.9%, reaching 5.9% higher than the national average.
  • Alberta had the highest employment rate among the provinces, at 68.1%.

In 2009, Alberta's economic productivity was higher than any other province:

  • Total value added per hour in Alberta was 118% of the Canadian average.
  • Alberta's manufacturing sector had the highest productivity of all provinces, partly because of its highly productive chemical, machinery and food processing industries.

Alberta has produced more trades people with an Interprovincial Standards Red Seal than any other jurisdiction in Canada.

Alberta wage and salary rates are competitive with the rest of Canada and with the United States. When total compensation rates are compared, Alberta provides even more of a cost advantage compared to the U.S., largely because of publicly funded health care. 

Learn more about Alberta's labour force:

Date Updated:
RDP-2143