Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 1,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 500 jobs from the previous month and increased by 2,100 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 600 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 100 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 500 jobs from last month and increased by 2,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

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

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 100 people 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 decreased by 0.4 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate increased by 0.3 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 1,300 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 1,300 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 19,400 workers.
  • Construction: 7,700 workers.
  • Agriculture: 2,900 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: 8,000 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 7,200 workers.
  • Educational services: 6,100 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 47% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 4.43%).
  • Construction: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 7.23%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 16.67%).
  • Public administration: Change of 500 workers (increased by 13.51%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 400 workers (increased by 18.18%).

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 2,000 workers (increased by 11.49%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,500 workers (increased by 32.61%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,200 workers (decreased by 13.04%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 28.57%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 52.63%).

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 7,820 in November 2025, it contracted by 30 jobs from October and decreased by 20 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 56.9%. It showed decline of 0.2 percentage points from October and showed growth by 0.1 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate reached 6.1%. It showed decline by 0.5 percentage points month-over-month, and contracted by 0.7 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in November 2025 was 7,820, showing a slight decrease of 30. against November, employment levels showed a decline of 20, showing weakness.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 56.9% in November 2025. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from October (57.1%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.1 percentage points from 56.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.1% in November 2025, down 0.5 percentage points from October. Compared to November last year (6.8%), the rate has decreased by 0.7 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.68) 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 (0.77) 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 -0.25 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 November 2025 was 7,820, showing a slight decrease of 30. against November, employment levels showed a decline of 20, showing weakness.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 56.9% in November 2025. This represents a decline of 0.2 percentage points from October (57.1%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.1 percentage points from 56.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.1% in November 2025, down 0.5 percentage points from October. Compared to November last year (6.8%), the rate has decreased by 0.7 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.77) 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 January, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.25 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 January, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 500 jobs from last month and increased by 2,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

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

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 100 people from the previous month and increased by 900 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate increased by 0.3 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 1,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,300 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 1,300 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 19,400 workers.
  • Construction: 7,700 workers.
  • Agriculture: 2,900 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: 8,000 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 7,200 workers.
  • Educational services: 6,100 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 47% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 4.43%).
  • Construction: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 7.23%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 500 workers (decreased by 16.67%).
  • Public administration: Change of 500 workers (increased by 13.51%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 400 workers (increased by 18.18%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 2,000 workers (increased by 11.49%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,500 workers (increased by 32.61%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,200 workers (decreased by 13.04%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 28.57%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 52.63%).

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 January, 2026
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 January, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 57th with an employment rate of 56.9%. The provincial range is 50.0% to 70.6%, with half of areas between 58.5% and 63.1% (median: 60.4%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 41st with an unemployment rate of 6.1%. The provincial range is 4.9% to 11.8%, with half of areas between 5.3% and 6.4% (median: 5.8%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey January, 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