Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake Economic Region Workforce Insights

July, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 100 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 300 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 800 people from the previous month and decreased by 100 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 1,800 jobs from last month and increased by 1,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 100 jobs from last month and decreased by 300 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 800 people from the previous month and decreased by 100 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 1,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 1,100 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 20,000 workers.
  • Construction: 6,800 workers.
  • Agriculture: 2,100 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: 11,300 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 8,000 workers.
  • Educational services: 5,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 48.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 14.29%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 500 workers (increased by 19.23%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 400 workers (increased by 3.67%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 400 workers (decreased by 16.67%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 300 workers (increased by 13.04%).

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 2,100 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Public administration: Change of 800 workers (decreased by 14.55%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 700 workers (decreased by 15.56%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 6.98%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 600 workers (increased by 30%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 600 workers (increased by 27.27%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 600 workers (increased by 15.38%).

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

May, 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 8,110 in May 2026, it expanded by 200 jobs from April and fell by 70 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 59.1%. It grew by 1.4 percentage points from April and went down by 0.4 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 6.5%. It fell by 0.6 percentage points month-over-month, and grew by 0.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in May 2026 was 8,110, showing a considerable increase of 200 from the previous month. Relative to May last year, employment levels decreased by 70, facing headwinds.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.1% in May 2026. This represents a rise of 1.4 percentage points from April (57.7%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points from 59.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.5% in May 2026, down 0.6 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (6.3%), the rate has increased by 0.2 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The moderate correlation (0.56) 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 (0.57) 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 0.28 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

May, 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 May 2026 was 8,110, showing a considerable increase of 200 from the previous month. Relative to May last year, employment levels decreased by 70, facing headwinds.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.1% in May 2026. This represents a rise of 1.4 percentage points from April (57.7%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points from 59.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.5% in May 2026, down 0.6 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (6.3%), the rate has increased by 0.2 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a moderate correlation (0.57) 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 July, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.28 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 July, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 1,800 jobs from last month and increased by 1,500 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 100 jobs from last month and decreased by 300 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 800 people from the previous month and decreased by 100 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points from a year ago.

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

The Participation Rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 1,800 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,100 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 1,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 1,100 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 20,000 workers.
  • Construction: 6,800 workers.
  • Agriculture: 2,100 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: 11,300 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 8,000 workers.
  • Educational services: 5,500 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 48.7% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 1,000 workers (increased by 14.29%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 500 workers (increased by 19.23%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 400 workers (increased by 3.67%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 400 workers (decreased by 16.67%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 300 workers (increased by 13.04%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Agriculture: Change of 2,100 workers (increased by Inf%).
  • Public administration: Change of 800 workers (decreased by 14.55%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 700 workers (decreased by 15.56%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 600 workers (decreased by 6.98%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 600 workers (increased by 30%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 600 workers (increased by 27.27%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 600 workers (increased by 15.38%).

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 July, 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 July, 2026

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 52nd with an employment rate of 59.1%. The provincial range is 48.8% to 76.1%, with half of areas between 60.0% and 65.1% (median: 62.8%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Lac la Biche County ranks 28th with an unemployment rate of 6.5%. The provincial range is 5.4% to 11.1%, with half of areas between 6.2% and 7.0% (median: 6.5%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey July, 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