Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,900 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment remained unchanged from the previous month and decreased by 1,600 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 600 people from the previous month and increased by 1,200 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 300 jobs from last month and increased by 3,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment remained unchanged from last month and decreased by 1,600 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 600 people from the previous month and increased by 1,200 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.9 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate increased by 1.9 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

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

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 19,500 workers.
  • Construction : 6,900 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 : 11,700 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 8,600 workers.
  • Public administration : 5,500 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

  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 7.5 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 4.46 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 18.52 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 8.77 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 400 workers ( decreased by 16 %).

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 3,000 workers ( increased by 34.48 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 2,000 workers ( decreased by 27.78 %).
  • Construction : Change of 1,800 workers ( decreased by 20.69 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 48.65 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by 60.71 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,700 workers ( decreased by 100 %).

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 stands at 8,180 in May 2025, it grew by 340 jobs from April and showed a decline of 10 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate stands at 59.5%. It grew of 2.5 percentage points from April and expanded by 0.1 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate is 6.3%. It fell by 0.9 percentage points month-over-month, and showed decline by 0.0 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in May 2025 was 8,180, showing a notable increase of 340. relative to May, employment levels reduced by 10, showing weakness.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.5% in May 2025. This represents a rise of 2.5 percentage points from April (57.0%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.1 percentage points from 59.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.3% in May 2025, down 0.9 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (6.3%), the rate has decreased by 0.0 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.42) 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 (0.53) 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 -0.50 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: Smoky Lake County, Vilna, Waskatenau, Smoky Lake, Lac la Biche County, Saddle Lake 125, White Fish Lake 128, Beaver Lake 131, Heart Lake 167, Thorhild County .

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment unemployment rates estimates at "small-area" level.

Lac la Biche County consists of the following communities: Smoky Lake County, Vilna, Waskatenau, Smoky Lake, Lac la Biche County, Saddle Lake 125, White Fish Lake 128, Beaver Lake 131, Heart Lake 167, Thorhild County .

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in May 2025 was 8,180, showing a notable increase of 340. relative to May, employment levels reduced by 10, showing weakness.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.5% in May 2025. This represents a rise of 2.5 percentage points from April (57.0%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.1 percentage points from 59.4%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.3% in May 2025, down 0.9 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (6.3%), the rate has decreased by 0.0 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.53) between regional and local levels. This shows moderate similarity in workforce engagement, suggesting that there are some shared labor market influences.

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

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.50 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 July, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 300 jobs from last month and increased by 3,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment remained unchanged from last month and decreased by 1,600 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 600 people from the previous month and increased by 1,200 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.9 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate increased by 1.9 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

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

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

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 19,500 workers.
  • Construction : 6,900 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 : 11,700 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 8,600 workers.
  • Public administration : 5,500 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 July, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 7.5 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 4.46 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 18.52 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 8.77 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 400 workers ( decreased by 16 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 3,000 workers ( increased by 34.48 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 2,000 workers ( decreased by 27.78 %).
  • Construction : Change of 1,800 workers ( decreased by 20.69 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 1,800 workers ( increased by 48.65 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by 60.71 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,700 workers ( decreased by 100 %).

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 July, 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.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 52nd with an employment rate of 59.5%. The provincial range is 53.0% to 78.1%, with half of areas between 60.7% and 65.8% (median: 63.4%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 28th with an unemployment rate of 6.3%. The provincial range is 5.1% to 10.2%, with half of areas between 5.8% and 7.0% (median: 6.3%).

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