Red Deer Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 13,400 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 1,000 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 7,800 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 300 people from the previous month and increased by 700 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from last month and increased by 13,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 1,000 jobs from last month and decreased by 7,800 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 300 people from the previous month and increased by 700 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 300 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 5,600 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 11,500 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 10,900 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 10,300 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, which together account for a substantial share of the workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade : 19,400 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 12,700 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 9,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Educational services : Change of 1,500 workers ( increased by 22.39 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,100 workers ( increased by 13.1 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 7.92 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 3.96 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 10.61 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 5.22 %).

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 4,500 workers ( decreased by 26.16 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 4,200 workers ( increased by 247.06 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 3,300 workers ( increased by 53.23 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 2,800 workers ( increased by 37.33 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 2,700 workers ( decreased by 35.06 %).

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: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment stands at 43,070 in September 2025, it grew by 110 jobs from August and grew by 820 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 61.4%. It rose of 0.1 percentage points from August and grew by 0.3 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate reached 6.0%. It declined by 1.1 percentage points month-over-month, and increased by 1.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in September 2025 was 43,070, showing a marginal increase of 110. versus September, employment levels expanded by 820, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.4% in September 2025. This represents a rise of 0.1 percentage points from August (61.3%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.3 percentage points from 61.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in September 2025, down 1.1 percentage points from August. Compared to September last year (4.5%), the rate has increased by 1.5 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.84) between regional and local employment levels indicates very similar employment patterns at both geographic levels. This suggests that local employment closely follows regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.78) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.00 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Red Deer County consists of the following communities: Combined Red Deer County Areas .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment unemployment rates estimates at "small-area" level.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in September 2025 was 43,070, showing a marginal increase of 110. versus September, employment levels expanded by 820, showing strength.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.4% in September 2025. This represents a rise of 0.1 percentage points from August (61.3%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.3 percentage points from 61.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in September 2025, down 1.1 percentage points from August. Compared to September last year (4.5%), the rate has increased by 1.5 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.78) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.00 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from last month and increased by 13,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 1,000 jobs from last month and decreased by 7,800 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 300 people from the previous month and increased by 700 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 2 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 5,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 300 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 5,600 jobs .

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction : 11,500 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 10,900 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 10,300 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, which together account for a substantial share of the workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade : 19,400 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 12,700 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 9,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Educational services : Change of 1,500 workers ( increased by 22.39 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,100 workers ( increased by 13.1 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 7.92 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 3.96 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 10.61 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 5.22 %).

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

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 4,500 workers ( decreased by 26.16 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 4,200 workers ( increased by 247.06 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 3,300 workers ( increased by 53.23 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 2,800 workers ( increased by 37.33 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 2,700 workers ( decreased by 35.06 %).

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 November, 2025
Economic region

Conclusion

The overall employment trend is positive, with strong growth in the past year. Key industries driving the trend are: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 26th with an employment rate of 61.4%. The provincial range is 50.8% to 72.7%, with half of areas between 58.8% and 63.2% (median: 60.7%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 25th with an unemployment rate of 6.0%. The provincial range is 4.8% to 11.7%, with half of areas between 5.4% and 7.0% (median: 6.1%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025