We noted on Friday that employment* in Alberta grew by 3.2% last year, compared to 1.8% nationally.

We also noted the job gains were concentrated in the private sector and full-time positions with both the goods- and services-producing categories posting increases.

Today’s Twenty-Four digs deeper into how employment in the province changed last year at the more detailed industry level.

Job growth was broad-based with increases posted in 15 of 20 major industries.

The largest number of new jobs were added in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector (primarily oil and gas in Alberta) at +15,000 or about 19% of the total increase of 79,200 jobs. At 148,700, jobs in the sector were at their highest level last year since 2015. The increase in jobs corresponds with rising levels of oil production in the province.

With visitor spending roaring back to life since 2020, the accommodation and food services sector added the second largest number of jobs at +11,500, finally surpassing its pre-COVID level of annual employment.

The public administration** sector was a close third, adding 11,300 jobs last year.

Health care and social assistance and manufacturing also posted job growth of 10,000 or more last year.

After rising to its highest level on record in 2023, employment in the real estate and rental and leasing sector pulled back a bit, shedding 1,500 jobs last year or about 3% of its workforce.

Although higher than before COVID, employment in wholesale trade and retail trade decreased  last year, falling by 2.4% and 1.4%, respectively. After three years of significant growth, the number of jobs in the professional, scientific and technical services sector decreased by 3%.

In the wake of a range of factors including labour shortages, an aging workforce, consolidation of farm operations, new technology, and drought, the primary agriculture sector recorded a drop of 8,600 jobs last year (-19.2%).

Other Statistics Canada data*** indicate that employment in food processing (which is included in the manufacturing sector in the Labour Force Survey) has been on the rise in recent years.

*The average number of people aged 15 and over in the province with a job including both employees and self-employed workers as measured by Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey. If a worker has more than one job, only the job at which they work the most hours is counted.

**This subsector comprises establishments of federal, provincial, local, Indigenous and foreign governments primarily engaged in activities of a governmental nature, such as legislative activities, taxation, public order and safety, and the administration government programs.

***Labour statistics consistent with the System of National Accounts, Table: 36-10-0489-01 (2023 most recent year of data).

Answer to the previous trivia question: At 10%, Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest average unemployment rate of any province last year.

Today’s trivia question: Which province had the lowest average unemployment rate last year?