Looking out over the next 12 months, most businesses in Alberta are feeling optimistic.

Completed just before the U.S. election, the results of the latest edition of the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions* show that 69% of businesses in Alberta with employees indicated they are very or somewhat optimistic about their outlook over the next 12 months.

The current reading is down 6 points from the previous quarter, but is 4 points higher than a year ago. Given everything going on in the world, it is not surprising to see the results bounce around, so the main takeaways are: 1) optimism in Alberta is much higher than pessimism; and 2) it is at roughly the same level as the national average of 72%.

With that said, it is important to stress that almost a third of Alberta businesses are either pessimistic (19%) about the next 12 months or facing so much uncertainty that they don’t know what to expect (13%).

Digging into the numbers a bit more, we find that urban businesses are more likely to say they are optimistic at 71% compared to 59% of rural businesses and that 88% of businesses with 100 or more employees are feeling optimistic versus 63% of those with 1-4 employees.

Among industry categories, oil and gas extraction businesses were the most likely to be optimistic at 88% followed by other services,** and manufacturing, both at 86%. The least optimistic sectors were information and culture at 48%, construction at 51%, and primary agriculture and forestry at 52%.

*Results from this survey are applicable to employer businesses in Canada. Both for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations are included. The most recent survey was conducted from October 1, 2024, to November 4, 2024, and respondents were asked about their expectations for the next 12 months. As a result, this 12-month period could range from October 1, 2024, to November 4, 2025, depending on when the business responded.

**This sector comprises establishments, not classified to any other sector, primarily engaged in repairing, or performing general or routine maintenance, on motor vehicles, machinery, equipment and other products to ensure that they work efficiently; providing personal care services, funeral services, laundry services and other services to individuals, such as pet care services and photo finishing services; organizing and promoting religious activities; supporting various causes through grant-making, advocating (promoting) various social and political causes, and promoting and defending the interests of their members.

Answer to the previous trivia question: The acronym MSRP stands for manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

Today’s trivia question: What is the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization?