Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 4,700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 600 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 300 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 4,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 600 jobs from last month and decreased by 2,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 300 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 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 increased by 100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 100 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,500 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 19,400 workers.
  • Construction : 8,300 workers.
  • Agriculture : 0 workers.
  • Utilities : 0 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 0 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 : 11,500 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 8,600 workers.
  • Public administration : 5,200 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

  • Construction : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 20.29 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 13.46 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 5.45 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 200 workers ( decreased by 1.71 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 200 workers ( decreased by 9.09 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 200 workers ( increased by 10 %).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 2,600 workers ( increased by 29.21 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,900 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,500 workers ( decreased by 25 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 7.78 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 45.16 %).

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, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.

Local Workforce Insights

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment is 8,390 in June 2025, it gained 210 jobs from May and increased by 40 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate stands at 61.0%. It showed growth of 1.5 percentage points from May and grew by 0.5 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate reached 6.0%. It decreased by 0.3 percentage points month-over-month, and contracted by 0.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in June 2025 was 8,390, showing a notable increase of 210. against June, employment levels expanded by 40, indicating growth.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.0% in June 2025. This represents a rise of 1.5 percentage points from May (59.5%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.5 percentage points from 60.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in June 2025, down 0.3 percentage points from May. Compared to June last year (6.2%), the rate has decreased by 0.2 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.59) 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 strong correlation (0.70) 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 -0.51 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Lac la Biche County consists of the following communities: Combined Lac la Biche 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 June 2025 was 8,390, showing a notable increase of 210. against June, employment levels expanded by 40, indicating growth.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.0% in June 2025. This represents a rise of 1.5 percentage points from May (59.5%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.5 percentage points from 60.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.0% in June 2025, down 0.3 percentage points from May. Compared to June last year (6.2%), the rate has decreased by 0.2 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.70) 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 August, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.51 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 August, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

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

Part-time Employment decreased by 600 jobs from last month and decreased by 2,100 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 300 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.1 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 August, 2025
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 100 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 100 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,500 jobs .

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 19,400 workers.
  • Construction : 8,300 workers.
  • Agriculture : 0 workers.
  • Utilities : 0 workers.
  • Manufacturing : 0 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 : 11,500 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 8,600 workers.
  • Public administration : 5,200 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 August, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Construction : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 20.29 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 13.46 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 5.45 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 200 workers ( decreased by 1.71 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 200 workers ( decreased by 9.09 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 200 workers ( increased by 10 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 2,600 workers ( increased by 29.21 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,900 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 1,500 workers ( decreased by 25 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 7.78 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,400 workers ( increased by 45.16 %).

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 August, 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, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Public administration.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 52nd with an employment rate of 61.0%. The provincial range is 53.4% to 80.1%, with half of areas between 62.1% and 67.4% (median: 65.1%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 35th with an unemployment rate of 6.0%. The provincial range is 4.8% to 10.2%, with half of areas between 5.4% and 6.4% (median: 5.8%).

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