Camrose-Drumheller Economic Region Workforce Insights

February, 2026

Key Insights

  • Employment decreased by 2,800 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 4,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.
  • Full-time Employment decreased by 4,300 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 3,200 jobs year-over-year.
  • Part-time Employment increased by 1,400 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 1,500 jobs year-over-year.
  • Unemployment increased by 1,500 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to the same month last year.

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 4,300 jobs from last month and decreased by 3,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 1,400 jobs from last month and decreased by 1,500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 1,500 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to last year.

Scroll down to explore the data

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.9 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 2 percentage points year-over-year.

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 2,800 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 4,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 2,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 4,700 jobs.

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 11,300 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 9,800 workers.
  • Agriculture: 6,500 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Agriculture, which together account for 81.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 16,400 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 13,300 workers.
  • Other services (except public administration): 7,800 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Other services (except public administration) lead employment, representing 53% of the sector's workforce.

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 1,500 workers (increased by 23.81%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 1,400 workers (decreased by 17.72%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 18.52%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 21.28%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 5.2%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 900 workers (increased by 16.07%).

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Same Month Last Year

  • Agriculture: Change of 6,200 workers (decreased by 48.82%).
  • Construction: Change of 4,300 workers (increased by 61.43%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 3,000 workers (increased by 62.5%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 2,900 workers (decreased by 43.94%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 2,800 workers (increased by 20.59%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 2,800 workers (decreased by 62.22%).

The year-over-year changes provide insights into longer-term shifts, highlighting industries that have grown or declined significantly.

Conclusion

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Other services (except public administration).

Local Workforce Insights

December, 2025

Updated monthly, local monthly workforce trends focus on total employment, and employment and unemployment rates estimates at SLA level
Kneehill County SLA consists of the following communities: Kneehill County, Carbon, Acme, Linden, Three Hills, Trochu.

Key Local Labour Market Insights

  • Total local employment reached 5,790 in December 2025, it expanded by 20 jobs from November and increased by 70 jobs year-over-year.
  • The local employment rate registered 59.8%. It increased by 0.1 percentage points from November and went down by 0.0 percentage points from same month last year.
  • Local unemployment rate stands at 5.5%. It went up by 0.6 percentage points month-over-month, and went down by 0.4 percentage points year-over-year.

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 5,790, showing a minor increase of 20 from the previous month. Relative to December last year, employment levels improved by 70, showing strength.

Scroll down to explore more data

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.8% in December 2025. This represents a rise of 0.1 percentage points from November (59.7%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.0 percentage points from 59.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.5% in December 2025, up 0.6 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (5.9%), the rate has decreased by 0.4 percentage points.

Employment: Regional vs Local Patterns

The weak correlation (-0.47) 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 (-0.50) 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 0.53 shows a moderate relationship. This suggests some common unemployment drivers, indicating that there is partial alignment in labor market stress.

Kneehill County SLA consists of the following communities: Kneehill County, Carbon, Acme, Linden, Three Hills, Trochu.

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

Kneehill County SLA consists of the following communities: Kneehill County, Carbon, Acme, Linden, Three Hills, Trochu.

Scroll down to explore the data

Local area

Employment Trends

Total employment in December 2025 was 5,790, showing a minor increase of 20 from the previous month. Relative to December last year, employment levels improved by 70, showing strength.

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

Employment Rate Dynamics

The employment rate reached 59.8% in December 2025. This represents a rise of 0.1 percentage points from November (59.7%). Year-over-year, the rate decreased by 0.0 percentage points from 59.8%.

Unemployment Rate Trends

The unemployment rate was 5.5% in December 2025, up 0.6 percentage points from November. Compared to December last year (5.9%), the rate has decreased by 0.4 percentage points.

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

Employment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

Employment rates show a weak correlation (-0.50) 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 February, 2026
Local area

Unemployment Rate: Regional vs Local Patterns

The unemployment rate correlation of 0.53 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 February, 2026
Economic region

Workforce Composition by Status

In the most recent month, Full-time Employment decreased by 4,300 jobs from last month and decreased by 3,200 jobs compared to the same month last year.

Part-time Employment increased by 1,400 jobs from last month and decreased by 1,500 jobs year-over-year.

The number of Unemployed individuals increased by 1,500 people from the previous month and increased by 1,600 people compared to last year.

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

Employment, Unemployment, and Participation Rate

The Employment Rate decreased by 2.9 percentage points from a year ago.

The Unemployment Rate increased by 1.6 percentage points from a year ago.

The Participation Rate decreased by 2 percentage points year-over-year.

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

Jobs Added or Lost by Month

Employment levels decreased by 2,800 jobs from the previous month and decreased by 4,700 jobs compared to the same month last year.

In the most recent month, employment decreased by 2,800 jobs. Over the last year, the labor market has decreased by 4,700 jobs.

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

Top 3 Industries in Goods Sector

  • Construction: 11,300 workers.
  • Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 9,800 workers.
  • Agriculture: 6,500 workers.

The Goods sector is mainly driven by industries such as Construction, Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Agriculture, which together account for 81.7% of the sector's workforce.

Top 3 Industries in Services Sector

  • Wholesale and retail trade: 16,400 workers.
  • Health care and social assistance: 13,300 workers.
  • Other services (except public administration): 7,800 workers.

In the Services sector, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Other services (except public administration) lead employment, representing 53% of the sector's workforce.

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

Top 5 Industries by Change from Previous Month

  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 1,500 workers (increased by 23.81%).
  • Agriculture: Change of 1,400 workers (decreased by 17.72%).
  • Professional, scientific and technical services: Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 18.52%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 1,000 workers (decreased by 21.28%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 900 workers (decreased by 5.2%).
  • Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: Change of 900 workers (increased by 16.07%).

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

  • Agriculture: Change of 6,200 workers (decreased by 48.82%).
  • Construction: Change of 4,300 workers (increased by 61.43%).
  • Other services (except public administration): Change of 3,000 workers (increased by 62.5%).
  • Accommodation and food services: Change of 2,900 workers (decreased by 43.94%).
  • Wholesale and retail trade: Change of 2,800 workers (increased by 20.59%).
  • Business, building and other support services: Change of 2,800 workers (decreased by 62.22%).

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

Employment has seen a decline over the year, highlighting some challenges in the job market. Key industries driving the trend are: Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas, Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, Health care and social assistance, Other services (except public administration).

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

Employment rate Provincial Comparison

Among 65 small areas in Alberta, Kneehill County ranks 39th with an employment rate of 59.8%. 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, Kneehill County ranks 12th with an unemployment rate of 5.5%. 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

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