Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

October, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 300 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 700 people from the previous month and decreased by 900 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from last month and increased by 3,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 300 jobs from last month and decreased by 700 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 700 people from the previous month and decreased by 900 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points from a year ago.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 900 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,700 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 19,900 workers.
  • Construction: 7,700 workers.
  • Agriculture: 0 workers.
  • Utilities: 0 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 0 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Agriculture, Utilities, Manufacturing, which together account for 100% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 10,500 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 9,100 workers.
  • Educational services: 6,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 51.8% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 1,600 workers (decreased by 100%).
  • Educational services: Change of 600 workers (increased by 9.84%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 500 workers (increased by 5.81%).
  • Public administration: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 12.82%).
  • Construction: Change of 400 workers (increased by 5.48%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Agriculture: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 100%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 2,400 workers (decreased by 100%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 2,200 workers (increased by 129.41%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 1,700 workers (increased by 106.25%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,600 workers (increased by 31.37%).

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, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

Local Workforce Insights

August, 2026

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Lac la Biche County SLA consists of the following communities: Lac la Biche County, Smoky Lake, Smoky Lake County, Thorhild County, Vilna, Waskatenau.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment stands at 8,260 in August 2026, it expanded by 390 jobs from July and contracted by 220 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 60.2%. It rose by 2.8 percentage points from July and declined by 1.5 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 7.3%. It grew by 1.2 percentage points month-over-month, and fell by 0.0 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in August 2026 was 8,260, showing a substantial increase of 390 from the previous month. From August last year, employment levels declined by 220, experiencing pressure.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 60.2% in August 2026. This represents a rise of 2.8 percentage points from July (57.4%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.5 percentage points from 61.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.3% in August 2026, up 1.2 percentage points from July. Compared to August last year (7.3%), the rate has decreased by 0.0 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.56) between regional and local employment levels indicates some alignment in employment trends. This suggests that local employment partially reflects regional patterns.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.46) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.05 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Lac la Biche County SLA consists of the following communities: Lac la Biche County, Smoky Lake, Smoky Lake County, Thorhild County, Vilna, Waskatenau.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

August, 2026

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level

Lac la Biche County SLA consists of the following communities: Lac la Biche County, Smoky Lake, Smoky Lake County, Thorhild County, Vilna, Waskatenau.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in August 2026 was 8,260, showing a substantial increase of 390 from the previous month. From August last year, employment levels declined by 220, experiencing pressure.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 60.2% in August 2026. This represents a rise of 2.8 percentage points from July (57.4%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.5 percentage points from 61.7%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.3% in August 2026, up 1.2 percentage points from July. Compared to August last year (7.3%), the rate has decreased by 0.0 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.46) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.05 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 October, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from last month and increased by 3,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 300 jobs from last month and decreased by 700 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 700 people from the previous month and decreased by 900 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points from a year ago.

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

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 900 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,700 jobs.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 19,900 workers.
  • Construction: 7,700 workers.
  • Agriculture: 0 workers.
  • Utilities: 0 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 0 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Agriculture, Utilities, Manufacturing, which together account for 100% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 10,500 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 9,100 workers.
  • Educational services: 6,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 51.8% of the sector's workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 1,600 workers (decreased by 100%).
  • Educational services: Change of 600 workers (increased by 9.84%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 500 workers (increased by 5.81%).
  • Public administration: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 12.82%).
  • Construction: Change of 400 workers (increased by 5.48%).

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

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Agriculture: Change of 2,700 workers (decreased by 100%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 2,400 workers (decreased by 100%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 2,200 workers (increased by 129.41%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 1,700 workers (increased by 106.25%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,600 workers (increased by 31.37%).

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 October, 2026
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, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 43rd with an employment rate of 60.2%. The provincial range is 42.8% to 75.3%, with half of areas between 60.1% and 64.9% (median: 62.7%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 35th with an unemployment rate of 7.3%. The provincial range is 5.8% to 9.4%, with half of areas between 6.7% and 7.7% (median: 7.1%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey October, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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