Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House Economic Region Workforce Insights

July, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 8,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment increased by 2,200 jobs from the previous month and increased by 1,700 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment decreased by 2,900 jobs from the previous month and increased by 7,000 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 1,500 people from the previous month and decreased by 3,100 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment increased by 2,200 jobs from last month and increased by 1,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,900 jobs from last month and increased by 7,000 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 1,500 people from the previous month and decreased by 3,100 people compared to last year.

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Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 2.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.6 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 8,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 8,700 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 21,700 workers.
  • Construction: 15,600 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 11,200 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Manufacturing, which together account for 88% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 31,700 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 24,600 workers.
  • Educational services: 13,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 50.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,600 workers (increased by 16.67%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 1,400 workers (increased by 20%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 12.5%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 7.69%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 4.41%).

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 12,600 workers (increased by 65.97%).
  • Construction: Change of 7,800 workers (decreased by 33.33%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 3,500 workers (decreased by 13.89%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 3,400 workers (increased by 68%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 3,100 workers (increased by 14.42%).

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

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment is 15,130 in May 2026, it grew by 320 jobs from April and decreased by 300 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate registered 64.0%. It grew by 1.4 percentage points from April and went down by 1.1 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 7.0%. It declined by 0.4 percentage points month-over-month, and increased by 0.1 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in May 2026 was 15,130, showing a considerable increase of 320 from the previous month. Compared to May last year, employment levels fell by 300, showing strain.

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Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 64.0% in May 2026. This represents a rise of 1.4 percentage points from April (62.6%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.1 percentage points from 65.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.0% in May 2026, down 0.4 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (6.9%), the rate has increased by 0.1 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.52) 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 (-0.51) 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 0.71 shows a strong relationship. This reveals synchronized unemployment patterns, indicating that economic challenges affect both geographic levels similarly.

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

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

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 May 2026 was 15,130, showing a considerable increase of 320 from the previous month. Compared to May last year, employment levels fell by 300, showing strain.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 64.0% in May 2026. This represents a rise of 1.4 percentage points from April (62.6%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 1.1 percentage points from 65.1%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 7.0% in May 2026, down 0.4 percentage points from April. Compared to May last year (6.9%), the rate has increased by 0.1 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.51) 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 July, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.71 shows a strong relationship. This reveals synchronized unemployment patterns, indicating that economic challenges affect both geographic levels similarly.

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 2,200 jobs from last month and increased by 1,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment decreased by 2,900 jobs from last month and increased by 7,000 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 1,500 people from the previous month and decreased by 3,100 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate increased by 2.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate decreased by 1.7 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate increased by 1.6 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 700 jobs from the previous month and increased by 8,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 700 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has increased by 8,700 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: 21,700 workers.
  • Construction: 15,600 workers.
  • Manufacturing: 11,200 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Manufacturing, which together account for 88% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 31,700 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 24,600 workers.
  • Educational services: 13,200 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Educational services lead employment, representing 50.7% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Manufacturing: Change of 1,600 workers (increased by 16.67%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 1,400 workers (increased by 20%).
  • Transportation and warehousing: Change of 1,100 workers (increased by 12.5%).
  • Educational services: Change of 1,100 workers (decreased by 7.69%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 4.41%).

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

  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 12,600 workers (increased by 65.97%).
  • Construction: Change of 7,800 workers (decreased by 33.33%).
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: Change of 3,500 workers (decreased by 13.89%).
  • Information, culture and recreation: Change of 3,400 workers (increased by 68%).
  • Health care and social assistance: Change of 3,100 workers (increased by 14.42%).

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, Yellowhead County ranks 22nd with an employment rate of 64.0%. 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, Yellowhead County ranks 43rd with an unemployment rate of 7.0%. 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