Economic Indicators - Employment - Economic Development Data Platform

Red Deer Economic Region Workforce Insights

February, 2026

Key Insights

Employment increased by 791 jobs from the previous month and increased by 13,260 jobs compared to the same month last year.
Full-time Employment decreased by 2,788 jobs from the previous month and increased by 8,408 jobs year-over-year.
Part-time Employment increased by 3,473 jobs from the previous month and increased by 4,756 jobs year-over-year.
Unemployment decreased by 905 people from the previous month and decreased by 2,895 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 2,788 jobs from last month and increased by 8,408 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 3,473 jobs from last month and increased by 4,756 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 905 people from the previous month and decreased by 2,895 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 2.4 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 3.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 791 jobs from the previous month and increased by 13,260 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 791 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 13,260 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

Construction: 16,699 workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 12,279 workers.
Manufacturing: 11,623 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Manufacturing, which together account for 89.8% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

Wholesale and retail trade: 20,156 workers.
Health care and social assistance: 18,587 workers.
Educational services: 12,447 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 51.6% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

Health care and social assistance: Change of 1,785 workers (increased by 10.62%).
Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,221 workers (decreased by 5.71%).
Construction: Change of 973 workers (increased by 6.19%).
Educational services: Change of 870 workers (increased by 7.52%).
Accommodation and food services: Change of 774 workers (decreased by 5.86%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

Construction: Change of 5,420 workers (increased by 48.05%).
Accommodation and food services: Change of 5,125 workers (increased by 70.11%).
Agriculture: Change of 3,258 workers (increased by 263.83%).
Business, building and other support services: Change of 2,237 workers (decreased by 42.63%).
Transportation and warehousing: Change of 1,899 workers (increased by 42.49%).

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: Construction, Accommodation and food services, Educational services, Health care and social assistance, Wholesale and retail trade.

Local Workforce Insights

December, 2025

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Red Deer SLA consists of the following communities: Red Deer.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

Total local employment registered 59,950 in December 2025, it expanded by 200 jobs from November and gained 1,020 jobs year-over-year.
The local employment rate reached 63.3%. It increased by 0.2 percentage points from November and went down by 0.2 percentage points from same month last year.
Local unemployment rate registered 6.7%. It increased by 0.3 percentage points month-over-month, and rose by 0.2 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 59,950, showing a marginal increase of 200 from the previous month. Relative to December last year, employment levels expanded by 1,020, maintaining momentum.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 63.3% in December 2025. This represents a rise of 0.2 percentage points from November (63.1%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from 63.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.7% in December 2025, up 0.3 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (6.5%), the rate has increased by 0.2 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The strong correlation (0.95) 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 (0.85) 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 0.01 shows a weak relationship. This points to distinct local unemployment dynamics, indicating that local unemployment follows its own distinct pattern.

Red Deer SLA consists of the following communities: Red Deer.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

December, 2025

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

Red Deer SLA consists of the following communities: Red Deer.

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Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 59,950, showing a marginal increase of 200 from the previous month. Relative to December last year, employment levels expanded by 1,020, maintaining momentum.

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

Local area

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 63.3% in December 2025. This represents a rise of 0.2 percentage points from November (63.1%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from 63.5%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 6.7% in December 2025, up 0.3 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (6.5%), the rate has increased by 0.2 percentage points.

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

Local area

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

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

Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.01 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 February, 2026

Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 2,788 jobs from last month and increased by 8,408 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 3,473 jobs from last month and increased by 4,756 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 905 people from the previous month and decreased by 2,895 people compared to last year.

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

Economic region

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 5 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 2.4 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 3.6 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Economic region

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 791 jobs from the previous month and increased by 13,260 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 791 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 13,260 jobs.

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

Economic region

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

Construction: 16,699 workers.
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 12,279 workers.
Manufacturing: 11,623 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Manufacturing, which together account for 89.8% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

Wholesale and retail trade: 20,156 workers.
Health care and social assistance: 18,587 workers.
Educational services: 12,447 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 51.6% of the sector's workforce.

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

Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

Health care and social assistance: Change of 1,785 workers (increased by 10.62%).
Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,221 workers (decreased by 5.71%).
Construction: Change of 973 workers (increased by 6.19%).
Educational services: Change of 870 workers (increased by 7.52%).
Accommodation and food services: Change of 774 workers (decreased by 5.86%).

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

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

Economic region

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

Construction: Change of 5,420 workers (increased by 48.05%).
Accommodation and food services: Change of 5,125 workers (increased by 70.11%).
Agriculture: Change of 3,258 workers (increased by 263.83%).
Business, building and other support services: Change of 2,237 workers (decreased by 42.63%).
Transportation and warehousing: Change of 1,899 workers (increased by 42.49%).

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 February, 2026

Economic region

Conclusion

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer ranks 16th with an employment rate of 63.3%. The provincial range is 51.1% to 69.6%, with half of areas between 58.7% and 63.3% (median: 60.6%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Red Deer ranks 43rd with an unemployment rate of 6.7%. The provincial range is 4.6% to 11.3%, with half of areas between 5.7% and 6.7% (median: 6.2%).

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

Recruitment and Retention

Remote Work as Incentive

Anticipated to work remotely

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

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