Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House Economic Region Workforce Insights

May, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment increased by 3,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 6,600 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 7,900 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 3,600 jobs from the previous month and increased by 11,200 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment decreased by 700 people from the previous month and decreased by 5,300 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 6,600 jobs from last month and decreased by 7,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 3,600 jobs from last month and increased by 11,200 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 700 people from the previous month and decreased by 5,300 people compared to last year.

Scroll down to explore the data

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 2.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 1 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 3,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 3,000 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 3,400 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 23,800 workers.
  • Construction: 17,400 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 8,100 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Manufacturing, which together account for 85.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 31,200 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 22,300 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services: 15,100 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services lead employment, representing 52% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 2,000 workers (increased by 22.22%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 1,600 workers (decreased by 17.58%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,500 workers (decreased by 9.04%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,300 workers (increased by 4.35%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 23.4%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 13,600 workers (increased by 77.27%).
  • Construction: Change of 6,500 workers (decreased by 27.2%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 4,600 workers (decreased by 38.02%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 3,800 workers (decreased by 31.93%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 3,100 workers (increased by 88.57%).

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, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

Local Workforce Insights

March, 2026

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

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment stands at 14,520 in March 2026, it reduced by 120 jobs from February and declined by 1,790 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate reached 61.3%. It fell by 0.5 percentage points from February and went down by 7.5 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate registered 7.1%. It went up by 0.5 percentage points month-over-month, and went down by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in March 2026 was 14,520, showing a steady decrease of 120 from the previous month. From March last year, employment levels decreased by 1,790, experiencing pressure.

Scroll down to explore more data

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.3% in March 2026. This represents a decline of 0.5 percentage points from February (61.8%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 7.5 percentage points from 68.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.1% in March 2026, up 0.5 percentage points from February. Compared to March last year (7.2%), the rate has decreased by 0.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.68) between regional and local employment levels indicates relatively independent employment patterns. This suggests that local employment dynamics are largely independent from regional trends.

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.67) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.58 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

Yellowhead County SLA consists of the following communities: Edson, Hinton, Yellowhead County.

Monthly Local Workforce Trends

March, 2026

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

Yellowhead County SLA consists of the following communities: Edson, Hinton, Yellowhead County.

Scroll down to explore the data

Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in March 2026 was 14,520, showing a steady decrease of 120 from the previous month. From March last year, employment levels decreased by 1,790, experiencing pressure.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 61.3% in March 2026. This represents a decline of 0.5 percentage points from February (61.8%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 7.5 percentage points from 68.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.1% in March 2026, up 0.5 percentage points from February. Compared to March last year (7.2%), the rate has decreased by 0.1 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.67) between regional and local levels. This suggests distinct local employment rate patterns, suggesting that local labor market conditions operate independently.

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

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.58 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

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

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 6,600 jobs from last month and decreased by 7,900 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 3,600 jobs from last month and increased by 11,200 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals decreased by 700 people from the previous month and decreased by 5,300 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 2.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 1 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels increased by 3,000 jobs from the previous month and increased by 3,400 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment increased by 3,000 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 3,400 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 23,800 workers.
  • Construction: 17,400 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 8,100 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Manufacturing, which together account for 85.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 31,200 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 22,300 workers.
  • Accommodation and food services: 15,100 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services lead employment, representing 52% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 2,000 workers (increased by 22.22%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 1,600 workers (decreased by 17.58%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,500 workers (decreased by 9.04%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 1,300 workers (increased by 4.35%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 23.4%).

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

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 13,600 workers (increased by 77.27%).
  • Construction: Change of 6,500 workers (decreased by 27.2%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 4,600 workers (decreased by 38.02%).
  • Manufacturing: Change of 3,800 workers (decreased by 31.93%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 3,100 workers (increased by 88.57%).

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 May, 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, Health care and social assistance, Accommodation and food services.

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Yellowhead County ranks 19th with an employment rate of 61.3%. The provincial range is 46.2% to 69.4%, with half of areas between 57.5% and 62.2% (median: 59.4%).

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

Unemployment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Yellowhead County ranks 47th with an unemployment rate of 7.1%. The provincial range is 5.4% to 12.5%, with half of areas between 6.1% and 7.0% (median: 6.5%).

Data source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey May, 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