Red Deer Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 2,700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 1,100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 3,700 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 400 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 700 people from the previous month and remained unchanged at 0 compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 1,100 jobs from last month and increased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 3,700 jobs from last month and decreased by 400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 700 from the previous month and remained unchanged at 0 compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.

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

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,700 jobs in the most recent month and increased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 2,700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net increased by 2,700 jobs in total.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 13,600 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 12,000 workers.
  • Construction : 9,300 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

  • Health care and social assistance : 18,200 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 16,500 workers.
  • Educational services : 11,300 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

  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 1,500 workers ( decreased by 25.86 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 8.33 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 10.57 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 1,100 workers ( decreased by 23.4 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,100 workers ( increased by 10.78 %).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Manufacturing : Change of 8,500 workers ( increased by 166.67 %).
  • Construction : Change of 3,800 workers ( decreased by 29.01 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 3,000 workers ( decreased by 35.71 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 2,500 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 2,400 workers ( decreased by 12.7 %).

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, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment reached 33,810 in December 2024, it decreased by 570 jobs from November and rose by 1,010 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 65.1%. It declined of 1.2 percentage points from November and contracted by 0.1 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate reached 5.4%. It showed decline by 1.3 percentage points month-over-month, and declined by 1.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 33,810, showing a modest decrease of 570. from December, employment levels increased by 1,010, indicating growth.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 65.1% in December 2024. This represents a decline of 1.2 percentage points from November (66.3%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points from 65.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.4% in December 2024, down 1.3 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (6.5%), the rate has decreased by 1.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (0.17) between regional and local employment levels indicates relatively independent employment patterns. This suggests that local employment dynamics are largely independent from regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.16) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.16 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: Red Deer County, Elnora, Delburne, Bowden, Innisfail, Penhold, Lacombe County, Birchcliff, Eckville, Half Moon Bay, Bentley, Sunbreaker Cove, Gull Lake, Blackfalds, Clive, Alix .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

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

Red Deer County consists of the following communities: Red Deer County, Elnora, Delburne, Bowden, Innisfail, Penhold, Lacombe County, Birchcliff, Eckville, Half Moon Bay, Bentley, Sunbreaker Cove, Gull Lake, Blackfalds, Clive, Alix .

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 33,810, showing a modest decrease of 570. from December, employment levels increased by 1,010, indicating growth.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 65.1% in December 2024. This represents a decline of 1.2 percentage points from November (66.3%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points from 65.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.4% in December 2024, down 1.3 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (6.5%), the rate has decreased by 1.1 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.16) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

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

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.16 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 March, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 1,100 jobs from last month and increased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 3,700 jobs from last month and decreased by 400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 700 from the previous month and remained unchanged at 0 compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.

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

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,700 jobs in the most recent month and increased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 2,700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net increased by 2,700 jobs in total.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 13,600 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 12,000 workers.
  • Construction : 9,300 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

  • Health care and social assistance : 18,200 workers.
  • Wholesale and retail trade : 16,500 workers.
  • Educational services : 11,300 workers.

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 1,500 workers ( decreased by 25.86 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 8.33 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 10.57 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 1,100 workers ( decreased by 23.4 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,100 workers ( increased by 10.78 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Manufacturing : Change of 8,500 workers ( increased by 166.67 %).
  • Construction : Change of 3,800 workers ( decreased by 29.01 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 3,000 workers ( decreased by 35.71 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 2,500 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 2,400 workers ( decreased by 12.7 %).

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 March, 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, Manufacturing, Wholesale and retail trade, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 63 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 6th with an employment rate of 65.1%. The provincial range is 40.0% to 67.5%, with half of areas between 53.7% and 60.5% (median: 57.6%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 63 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 12th with an unemployment rate of 5.4%. The provincial range is 3.8% to 10.6%, with half of areas between 5.4% and 6.5% (median: 5.8%).

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

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