Red Deer Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 2,300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 10,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 1,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 13,900 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 1,300 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 3,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 1,500 people from the previous month and decreased by 1,400 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 1,000 jobs from last month and increased by 13,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 1,300 jobs from last month and decreased by 3,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 1,500 people from the previous month and decreased by 1,400 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 4.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 3.7 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 10,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 2,300 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 10,800 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 13,000 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 11,700 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 9,900 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Manufacturing, which together account for 82.4% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 19,200 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 12,900 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services: 11,600 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services lead employment, representing 52.4% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 2,100 workers (increased by 22.11%).
  • Construction: Change of 1,500 workers (increased by 13.04%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 13.41%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 800 workers (increased by 7.34%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 800 workers (decreased by 13.79%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 6,100 workers (increased by 110.91%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 5,200 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 4,200 workers (decreased by 24.56%).
  • Educational services: Change of 3,000 workers (increased by 47.62%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 60%).

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, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment reached 43,120 in October 2025, it rose by 50 jobs from September and showed an uptick of 730 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate registered 61.5%. It showed growth of 0.1 percentage points from September and rose by 0.3 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 5.7%. It fell by 0.3 percentage points month-over-month, and increased by 0.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in October 2025 was 43,120, showing a marginal increase of 50. against October, employment levels showed an uptick of 730, maintaining momentum.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.5% in October 2025. This represents a rise of 0.1 percentage points from September (61.4%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.3 percentage points from 61.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.7% in October 2025, down 0.3 percentage points from September. Compared to October last year (5.2%), the rate has increased by 0.5 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 (0.79) 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 -0.04 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 October 2025 was 43,120, showing a marginal increase of 50. against October, employment levels showed an uptick of 730, maintaining momentum.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.5% in October 2025. This represents a rise of 0.1 percentage points from September (61.4%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.3 percentage points from 61.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.7% in October 2025, down 0.3 percentage points from September. Compared to October last year (5.2%), the rate has increased by 0.5 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.79) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

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

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.04 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

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

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 1,000 jobs from last month and increased by 13,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 1,300 jobs from last month and decreased by 3,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 1,500 people from the previous month and decreased by 1,400 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 4.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 3.7 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 10,800 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 2,300 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 10,800 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 13,000 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 11,700 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 9,900 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Manufacturing, which together account for 82.4% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 19,200 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 12,900 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services: 11,600 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services lead employment, representing 52.4% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 2,100 workers (increased by 22.11%).
  • Construction: Change of 1,500 workers (increased by 13.04%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 13.41%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 800 workers (increased by 7.34%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 800 workers (decreased by 13.79%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 6,100 workers (increased by 110.91%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 5,200 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 4,200 workers (decreased by 24.56%).
  • Educational services: Change of 3,000 workers (increased by 47.62%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 60%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey December, 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, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 25th with an employment rate of 61.5%. The provincial range is 51.1% to 70.4%, with half of areas between 58.8% and 63.1% (median: 60.8%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 17th with an unemployment rate of 5.7%. The provincial range is 5.0% to 10.2%, with half of areas between 5.6% and 6.6% (median: 6.0%).

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

Recruitment and Retention

Remote Work as Incentive

Anticipated to work remotely

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Recruitment, Retention and Training Plans

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (geography)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization size)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work (organization type)

Percentage of organizations planning to offer remote work as for recruitment, retention and training over the next 12 months

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by business size

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by organization type

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training - by geography

Organization's current or planned tasks regarding recruitment, retention and training in the next 12 months (Q1 2023)

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Anticipated Work Arrangement in the Next Three Months

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (geography)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization size)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely (organization type)

Percentage of workers anticipated to only work remotely over the next three months

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Data source: Statistics Canada - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by business size

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by organization type

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions

Anticipated work arrangement - by geography

Percentage of workforce anticipated to work on-site or remotely over the next three months, Q1 2023

Data source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Business Conditions