Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 5,200 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 600 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 1,900 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 400 people from the previous month and increased by 400 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 900 jobs from last month and increased by 5,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 600 jobs from last month and decreased by 1,900 jobs year-over-year.

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

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.8 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 300 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 3,300 jobs .

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 21,200 workers.
  • Construction : 9,000 workers.
  • Agriculture : 2,700 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 : 9,500 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 7,900 workers.
  • Educational services : 5,100 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

  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,400 workers ( decreased by 12.84 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,000 workers ( increased by 4.95 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 28.57 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 10.87 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 5.95 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 11.36 %).

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 3,600 workers ( increased by 20.45 %).
  • Construction : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 16.88 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 25.71 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 700 workers ( increased by 7.95 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 11.36 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 23.81 %).

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 8,480 in August 2025, it showed an uptick of 120 jobs from July and expanded by 70 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 61.7%. It rose of 0.9 percentage points from July and grew by 0.7 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 7.3%. It increased by 0.8 percentage points month-over-month, and showed growth by 0.3 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in August 2025 was 8,480, showing a modest increase of 120. against August, employment levels rose by 70, showing strength.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.7% in August 2025. This represents a rise of 0.9 percentage points from July (60.8%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.7 percentage points from 61.0%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.3% in August 2025, up 0.8 percentage points from July. Compared to August last year (7.0%), the rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.83) 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 (0.83) 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 -0.18 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 August 2025 was 8,480, showing a modest increase of 120. against August, employment levels rose by 70, showing strength.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.7% in August 2025. This represents a rise of 0.9 percentage points from July (60.8%). Year-over-year, the rate improved by 0.7 percentage points from 61.0%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.3% in August 2025, up 0.8 percentage points from July. Compared to August last year (7.0%), the rate has increased by 0.3 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a strong correlation (0.83) 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 October, 2025
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of -0.18 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 October, 2025
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 900 jobs from last month and increased by 5,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 600 jobs from last month and decreased by 1,900 jobs year-over-year.

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

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 0.2 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.8 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 300 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,300 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 300 jobs . Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 3,300 jobs .

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : 21,200 workers.
  • Construction : 9,000 workers.
  • Agriculture : 2,700 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 : 9,500 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance : 7,900 workers.
  • Educational services : 5,100 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 October, 2025
Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 1,400 workers ( decreased by 12.84 %).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 1,000 workers ( increased by 4.95 %).
  • Agriculture : Change of 600 workers ( increased by 28.57 %).
  • Educational services : Change of 500 workers ( increased by 10.87 %).
  • Health care and social assistance : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 5.95 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 11.36 %).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas : Change of 3,600 workers ( increased by 20.45 %).
  • Construction : Change of 1,300 workers ( increased by 16.88 %).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services : Change of 900 workers ( decreased by 25.71 %).
  • Wholesale and retail trade : Change of 700 workers ( increased by 7.95 %).
  • Public administration : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 11.36 %).
  • Business, building and other support services : Change of 500 workers ( decreased by 23.81 %).

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 October, 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 October, 2025

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 43rd with an employment rate of 61.7%. The provincial range is 47.1% to 77.6%, with half of areas between 61.4% and 66.9% (median: 64.2%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 26th with an unemployment rate of 7.3%. The provincial range is 5.6% to 12.2%, with half of areas between 6.5% and 8.3% (median: 7.4%).

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