Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 1,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 400 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 900 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 700 jobs from last month and increased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 500 jobs from last month and decreased by 400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 900 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 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.5 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 1,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 1,200 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,600 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 20,300 workers.
  • Construction: 8,300 workers.
  • Agriculture: 3,200 workers.

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

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 8,300 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 7,200 workers.
  • Educational services: 5,800 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 47.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 800 workers (decreased by 3.79%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 700 workers (decreased by 18.92%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 5.68%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 500 workers (increased by 25%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 400 workers (increased by 22.22%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 3,000 workers (increased by 17.34%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 52.38%).
  • Educational services: Change of 900 workers (increased by 18.37%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 27.27%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 600 workers (increased by 17.14%).

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 reached 7,850 in October 2025, it contracted by 30 jobs from September and declined by 220 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate registered 57.1%. It showed decline of 0.2 percentage points from September and decreased by 1.4 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 6.6%. It grew by 0.5 percentage points month-over-month, and expanded by 0.9 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in October 2025 was 7,850, showing a slight decrease of 30. compared to October, employment levels reduced by 220, showing weakness.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 57.1% in October 2025. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from September (57.3%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points from 58.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.6% in October 2025, up 0.5 percentage points from September. Compared to October last year (5.7%), the rate has increased by 0.9 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.62) 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 (0.67) 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 -0.22 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 October 2025 was 7,850, showing a slight decrease of 30. compared to October, employment levels reduced by 220, showing weakness.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 57.1% in October 2025. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from September (57.3%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points from 58.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.6% in October 2025, up 0.5 percentage points from September. Compared to October last year (5.7%), the rate has increased by 0.9 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.67) 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 December, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.22 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 December, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 700 jobs from last month and increased by 3,000 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 500 jobs from last month and decreased by 400 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals remained unchanged from the previous month and increased by 900 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey December, 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 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.5 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 1,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 1,200 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 2,600 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 20,300 workers.
  • Construction: 8,300 workers.
  • Agriculture: 3,200 workers.

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

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 8,300 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 7,200 workers.
  • Educational services: 5,800 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 47.7% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 800 workers (decreased by 3.79%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 700 workers (decreased by 18.92%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 5.68%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 500 workers (increased by 25%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 400 workers (increased by 22.22%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 3,000 workers (increased by 17.34%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 52.38%).
  • Educational services: Change of 900 workers (increased by 18.37%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 27.27%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 600 workers (increased by 17.14%).

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 December, 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 December, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 57th with an employment rate of 57.1%. The provincial range is 51.1% to 70.4%, with half of areas between 58.8% and 63.1% (median: 60.8%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 45th with an unemployment rate of 6.6%. The provincial range is 5.0% to 10.2%, with half of areas between 5.6% and 6.6% (median: 6.0%).

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

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