Red Deer Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 5,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 9,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 3,700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 2,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 500 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 100 jobs from last month and increased by 9,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 500 jobs from last month and decreased by 3,700 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 2,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 500 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

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

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 12,000 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 10,200 workers.
  • Construction : 10,200 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 : 20,800 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 15,000 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 7,500 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

  • Construction : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 9.68 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 15.52 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 5.66 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 8.82 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 10 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 4 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 7.14 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 11.36 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 7.58 %).

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 5,800 workers ( increased by 93.55 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 3,600 workers ( decreased by 42.35 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 3,000 workers ( increased by 120 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 2,800 workers ( increased by 15.56 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 2,300 workers ( decreased by 13.29 %).

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 reached 42,780 in July 2025, it reduced by 460 jobs from June and showed an uptick of 210 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate registered 61.2%. It declined of 0.7 percentage points from June and fell by 0.6 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 6.0%. It increased by 0.7 percentage points month-over-month, and fell by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in July 2025 was 42,780, showing a measured decrease of 460. versus July, employment levels rose by 210, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.2% in July 2025. This represents a decline of 0.7 percentage points from June (61.9%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points from 61.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in July 2025, up 0.7 percentage points from June. Compared to July last year (6.1%), the rate has decreased by 0.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.78) 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 (0.71) 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 July 2025 was 42,780, showing a measured decrease of 460. versus July, employment levels rose by 210, showing strength.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.2% in July 2025. This represents a decline of 0.7 percentage points from June (61.9%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points from 61.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in July 2025, up 0.7 percentage points from June. Compared to July last year (6.1%), the rate has decreased by 0.1 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.71) 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 September, 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 September, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 100 jobs from last month and increased by 9,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 500 jobs from last month and decreased by 3,700 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 2,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 500 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.2 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

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

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

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 12,000 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 10,200 workers.
  • Construction : 10,200 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 : 20,800 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 15,000 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services : 7,500 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 September, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Construction : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 9.68 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 15.52 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 5.66 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 8.82 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 10 %).
  • Manufacturing : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 4 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 7.14 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 11.36 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 7.58 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Manufacturing : Change of 5,800 workers ( increased by 93.55 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 3,600 workers ( decreased by 42.35 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 3,000 workers ( increased by 120 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 2,800 workers ( increased by 15.56 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 2,300 workers ( decreased by 13.29 %).

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 September, 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 September, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 51st with an employment rate of 61.2%. The provincial range is 52.2% to 79.9%, with half of areas between 62.4% and 67.2% (median: 64.9%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 3rd with an unemployment rate of 6.0%. The provincial range is 5.8% to 11.4%, with half of areas between 6.1% and 7.4% (median: 6.5%).

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