Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,600 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 900 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 200 people 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 1,800 jobs from last month and increased by 3,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 900 jobs from last month and decreased by 500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 200 people from the previous month and increased by 900 people compared to last year.

Scroll down to explore the data

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.4 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 900 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 3,100 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 21,100 workers.
  • Construction : 8,400 workers.
  • Agriculture : 3,500 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 : 8,800 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 7,500 workers.
  • Educational services : 5,700 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

  • Agriculture : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 29.63 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 7.37 %).
  • Construction : Change of 600 workers ( decreased by 6.67 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 11.76 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 400 workers ( decreased by 5.06 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 400 workers ( decreased by 9.76 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 400 workers ( increased by 11.76 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 400 workers ( decreased by 10.26 %).

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 3,700 workers ( increased by 21.26 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 59.09 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 1,100 workers ( decreased by 31.43 %).
  • Construction : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 10.53 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 16.67 %).

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 is 7,880 in September 2025, it declined by 600 jobs from August and showed a decline of 440 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate is 57.3%. It showed decline of 4.4 percentage points from August and showed decline by 3.0 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 6.1%. It decreased by 1.2 percentage points month-over-month, and increased by 0.3 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in September 2025 was 7,880, showing a significant decrease of 600. versus September, employment levels dropped by 440, showing strain.

Scroll down to explore more data

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 57.3% in September 2025. This represents a decline of 4.4 percentage points from August (61.7%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 3.0 percentage points from 60.3%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.1% in September 2025, down 1.2 percentage points from August. Compared to September last year (5.8%), the rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.73) 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 (0.75) 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 -0.24 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.

Scroll down to explore the data

Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in September 2025 was 7,880, showing a significant decrease of 600. versus September, employment levels dropped by 440, showing strain.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 57.3% in September 2025. This represents a decline of 4.4 percentage points from August (61.7%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 3.0 percentage points from 60.3%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.1% in September 2025, down 1.2 percentage points from August. Compared to September last year (5.8%), the rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.75) between regional and local levels. This indicates strong alignment in workforce participation, suggesting that labor market conditions affect both areas similarly.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.24 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 1,800 jobs from last month and increased by 3,600 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 900 jobs from last month and decreased by 500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 200 people from the previous month and increased by 900 people compared to last year.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.4 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 2 percentage points year-over-year.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 900 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 3,100 jobs .

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 21,100 workers.
  • Construction : 8,400 workers.
  • Agriculture : 3,500 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 : 8,800 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 7,500 workers.
  • Educational services : 5,700 workers.

In the Services sector, Health Care, Retail, and Professional Services lead employment, representing a dominant portion of the workforce.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Agriculture : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 29.63 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 7.37 %).
  • Construction : Change of 600 workers ( decreased by 6.67 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 11.76 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 400 workers ( decreased by 5.06 %).
  • Accommodation and food services : Change of 400 workers ( decreased by 9.76 %).
  • Other services (except public administration) : Change of 400 workers ( increased by 11.76 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 400 workers ( decreased by 10.26 %).

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

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 3,700 workers ( increased by 21.26 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 59.09 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 1,100 workers ( decreased by 31.43 %).
  • Construction : Change of 800 workers ( increased by 10.53 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 700 workers ( decreased by 16.67 %).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 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.

Loading...
Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey November, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 56th with an employment rate of 57.3%. The provincial range is 50.8% to 72.7%, with half of areas between 58.8% and 63.2% (median: 60.7%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 30th with an unemployment rate of 6.1%. The provincial range is 4.8% to 11.7%, with half of areas between 5.4% and 7.0% (median: 6.1%).

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