Red Deer Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 900 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 4,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 5,400 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 500 people from the previous month and increased by 800 compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from last month and increased by 4,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from last month and decreased by 5,400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 500 from the previous month and increased by 800 compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.4 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 2.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 400 jobs in the most recent month and decreased by 900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 400 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net decreased by 900 jobs in total.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 12,300 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 11,200 workers.
  • Construction : 9,900 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 : 17,000 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 16,800 workers.
  • Educational services : 10,200 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

  • Manufacturing : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by 16.04 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,600 workers ( increased by 18.6 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 1,100 workers ( decreased by 21.57 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 16.36 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 12.12 %).

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 7,000 workers ( increased by 132.08 %).
  • Construction : Change of 4,200 workers ( decreased by 29.79 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 2,900 workers ( decreased by 14.57 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 2,200 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 2,000 workers ( increased by 74.07 %).

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

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. 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 stands at 33,810 in December 2024, it decreased by 570 jobs from November and showed an uptick of 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 registered 5.4%. It fell 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. against December, employment levels gained 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 (0.11) 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 (-0.30) 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 -0.13 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. against December, employment levels gained 1,010, indicating growth.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.30) 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 February, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.13 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 February, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from last month and increased by 4,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 200 jobs from last month and decreased by 5,400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 500 from the previous month and increased by 800 compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.4 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 2.1 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 400 jobs in the most recent month and decreased by 900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 400 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net decreased by 900 jobs in total.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 12,300 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 11,200 workers.
  • Construction : 9,900 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 : 17,000 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 16,800 workers.
  • Educational services : 10,200 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 February, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Manufacturing : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by 16.04 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,600 workers ( increased by 18.6 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 1,100 workers ( decreased by 21.57 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 900 workers ( increased by 16.36 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 12.12 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Manufacturing : Change of 7,000 workers ( increased by 132.08 %).
  • Construction : Change of 4,200 workers ( decreased by 29.79 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 2,900 workers ( decreased by 14.57 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 2,200 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 2,000 workers ( increased by 74.07 %).

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 February, 2025
Economic region

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. 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 February, 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 February, 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 February, 2025

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