Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 1,300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,400 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 500 people from the previous month and increased by 400 compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 1,800 jobs from last month and increased by 1,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

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

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 500 from the previous month and increased by 400 compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 1,300 jobs in the most recent month and increased by 2,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 1,300 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net increased by 2,200 jobs in total.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 19,300 workers.
  • Construction : 7,300 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 : 10,300 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 8,000 workers.
  • Educational services : 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

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 2.66 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 400 workers ( increased by 4.04 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 400 workers ( increased by 7.84 %).
  • Construction : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 3.95 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 3.61 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 300 workers ( increased by 10.34 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 300 workers ( increased by 7.32 %).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Educational services : Change of 2,100 workers ( decreased by 27.63 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by 106.25 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 46.43 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 22.22 %).
  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 21.62 %).

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

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment stands at 11,950 in December 2024, it contracted by 280 jobs from November and decreased by 910 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate stands at 58.3%. It contracted of 1.4 percentage points from November and declined by 4.8 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 7.4%. It fell by 0.0 percentage points month-over-month, and showed growth by 0.7 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 11,950, showing a notable decrease of 280. from December, employment levels fell by 910, showing weakness.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 58.3% in December 2024. This represents a decline of 1.4 percentage points from November (59.7%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 4.8 percentage points from 63.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.4% in December 2024, down 0.0 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (6.7%), the rate has increased by 0.7 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.77) between regional and local employment levels indicates very similar employment patterns at both geographic levels. This suggests that local employment closely follows regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.72) 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 -0.21 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, Improvement District No. 349, Beaver Lake 131, Heart Lake 167, Athabasca County, Mewatha Beach, Boyle, Sunset Beach, Athabasca, Island Lake, Island Lake South, Bondiss, South Baptiste, West Baptiste, Whispering Hills .

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, Improvement District No. 349, Beaver Lake 131, Heart Lake 167, Athabasca County, Mewatha Beach, Boyle, Sunset Beach, Athabasca, Island Lake, Island Lake South, Bondiss, South Baptiste, West Baptiste, Whispering Hills .

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2024 was 11,950, showing a notable decrease of 280. from December, employment levels fell by 910, showing weakness.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 58.3% in December 2024. This represents a decline of 1.4 percentage points from November (59.7%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 4.8 percentage points from 63.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.4% in December 2024, down 0.0 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (6.7%), the rate has increased by 0.7 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.72) 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 April, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.21 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 April, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 1,800 jobs from last month and increased by 1,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

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

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 500 from the previous month and increased by 400 compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points year-over-year.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.3 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 1,300 jobs in the most recent month and increased by 2,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, there was a net increased by 1,300 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has seen a net increased by 2,200 jobs in total.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 19,300 workers.
  • Construction : 7,300 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 : 10,300 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 8,000 workers.
  • Educational services : 5,500 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 April, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 2.66 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 400 workers ( increased by 4.04 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 400 workers ( increased by 7.84 %).
  • Construction : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 3.95 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 300 workers ( decreased by 3.61 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 300 workers ( increased by 10.34 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 300 workers ( increased by 7.32 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Educational services : Change of 2,100 workers ( decreased by 27.63 %).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing : Change of 1,700 workers ( increased by 106.25 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,600 workers ( decreased by 100 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 46.43 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 22.22 %).
  • Transportation and warehousing : Change of 800 workers ( decreased by 21.62 %).

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 April, 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, Educational services, Health care and social assistance.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 63 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 26th with an employment rate of 58.3%. 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 April, 2025

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 63 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 51st with an unemployment rate of 7.4%. 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 April, 2025

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