Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

April, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 500 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 200 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 100 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,600 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 900 people from the previous month and increased by 2,000 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 500 jobs from last month and decreased by 200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

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

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 900 people from the previous month and increased by 2,000 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 3.9 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 2.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 2.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 400 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,900 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 19,800 workers.
  • Construction: 6,600 workers.
  • Agriculture: 2,200 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: 8,400 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 7,400 workers.
  • Educational services: 5,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 47.3% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 13.51%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 6.33%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 500 workers (increased by 18.52%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 400 workers (decreased by 12.5%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 400 workers (decreased by 16.67%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Agriculture: Change of 2,200 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,900 workers (decreased by 18.45%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 1,600 workers (decreased by 44.44%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 21.95%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 800 workers (decreased by 24.24%).

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

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. 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

February, 2026

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Lac la Biche County SLA consists of the following communities: Lac la Biche County, Smoky Lake, Smoky Lake County, Thorhild County, Vilna, Waskatenau.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment registered 7,740 in February 2026, it reduced by 30 jobs from January and contracted by 130 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate registered 56.4%. It fell by 0.2 percentage points from January and went down by 0.8 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate is 6.2%. It fell by 0.6 percentage points month-over-month, and declined by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in February 2026 was 7,740, showing a marginal decrease of 30 from the previous month. Compared to February last year, employment levels showed a decline of 130, showing weakness.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 56.4% in February 2026. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from January (56.6%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.8 percentage points from 57.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.2% in February 2026, down 0.6 percentage points from January. Compared to February last year (6.8%), the rate has decreased by 0.6 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.67) 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 -0.17 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Lac la Biche County SLA consists of the following communities: Lac la Biche County, Smoky Lake, Smoky Lake County, Thorhild County, Vilna, Waskatenau.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

February, 2026

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level

Lac la Biche County SLA consists of the following communities: Lac la Biche County, Smoky Lake, Smoky Lake County, Thorhild County, Vilna, Waskatenau.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in February 2026 was 7,740, showing a marginal decrease of 30 from the previous month. Compared to February last year, employment levels showed a decline of 130, showing weakness.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026
Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 56.4% in February 2026. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from January (56.6%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.8 percentage points from 57.2%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.2% in February 2026, down 0.6 percentage points from January. Compared to February last year (6.8%), the rate has decreased by 0.6 percentage points.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026
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 April, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.17 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, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 500 jobs from last month and decreased by 200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

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

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 900 people from the previous month and increased by 2,000 people compared to last year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026
Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 3.9 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 2.5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 2.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026
Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 2,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 400 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 2,900 jobs.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026
Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 19,800 workers.
  • Construction: 6,600 workers.
  • Agriculture: 2,200 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: 8,400 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 7,400 workers.
  • Educational services: 5,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 47.3% of the sector's workforce.

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 13.51%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 6.33%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 500 workers (increased by 18.52%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 400 workers (decreased by 12.5%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 400 workers (decreased by 16.67%).

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

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Agriculture: Change of 2,200 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,900 workers (decreased by 18.45%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 1,600 workers (decreased by 44.44%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 21.95%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 800 workers (decreased by 24.24%).

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, 2026
Economic region

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. 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, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 53rd with an employment rate of 56.4%. The provincial range is 47.5% to 70.1%, with half of areas between 57.6% and 62.3% (median: 59.5%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 24th with an unemployment rate of 6.2%. The provincial range is 5.5% to 11.0%, with half of areas between 6.0% and 6.8% (median: 6.3%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey April, 2026

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