Red Deer Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 2,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 11,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 4,600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 10,700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 2,600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 1,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 4,600 jobs from last month and increased by 10,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,600 jobs from last month and increased by 700 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 1,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 4.4 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 2.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 2.8 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 11,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 2,000 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 11,300 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 12,200 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 11,000 workers.
  • Construction : 8,600 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 : 19,800 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 17,600 workers.
  • Educational services : 8,700 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

  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 10 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by 77.27 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 1,200 workers ( decreased by 6.38 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 6.78 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 15.09 %).

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 5,400 workers ( increased by 79.41 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 4,300 workers ( increased by 27.74 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 3,500 workers ( decreased by 42.17 %).
  • Construction : Change of 2,900 workers ( decreased by 25.22 %).
  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 2,300 workers ( increased by 121.05 %).

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 is 41,760 in April 2025, it gained 460 jobs from March and increased by 20 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate stands at 59.9%. It expanded of 0.6 percentage points from March and decreased by 1.2 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 6.2%. It contracted by 0.1 percentage points month-over-month, and grew by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in April 2025 was 41,760, showing a steady increase of 460. compared to April, employment levels increased by 20, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.9% in April 2025. This represents a rise of 0.6 percentage points from March (59.3%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points from 61.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.2% in April 2025, down 0.1 percentage points from March. Compared to April last year (5.8%), the rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.28) 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 (0.11) 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 April 2025 was 41,760, showing a steady increase of 460. compared to April, employment levels increased by 20, showing strength.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.9% in April 2025. This represents a rise of 0.6 percentage points from March (59.3%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points from 61.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.2% in April 2025, down 0.1 percentage points from March. Compared to April last year (5.8%), the rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (0.11) 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 June, 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 June, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 4,600 jobs from last month and increased by 10,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,600 jobs from last month and increased by 700 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 1,100 people from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 4.4 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 2.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 2.8 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 2,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 11,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 2,000 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 11,300 jobs .

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Manufacturing : 12,200 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 11,000 workers.
  • Construction : 8,600 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 : 19,800 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 17,600 workers.
  • Educational services : 8,700 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 June, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 10 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by 77.27 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 1,200 workers ( decreased by 6.38 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 6.78 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 15.09 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Manufacturing : Change of 5,400 workers ( increased by 79.41 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 4,300 workers ( increased by 27.74 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 3,500 workers ( decreased by 42.17 %).
  • Construction : Change of 2,900 workers ( decreased by 25.22 %).
  • Information, culture and recreation : Change of 2,300 workers ( increased by 121.05 %).

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 June, 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 June, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 53 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 33rd with an employment rate of 59.9%. The provincial range is 51.5% to 76.5%, with half of areas between 58.7% and 68.0% (median: 62.0%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 53 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer County ranks 3rd with an unemployment rate of 6.2%. The provincial range is 5.9% to 10.5%, with half of areas between 6.5% and 7.5% (median: 6.8%).

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