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Welcome to Alberta sign. The province had a net gain of approximately 20,000 jobs in Jan. 2026. (Image Credit: (c) Wellesenterprises | Dreamstime.com)
By David Opinko

Alberta adds 41,800 full-time jobs in January

Feb 6, 2026 | 8:47 AM

January was a strong month on the jobs front in Alberta.

Statistics Canada reports that we kicked off the new year by adding 41,800 full-time jobs across the province.

Even with a reduction of 21,400 part-time positions, the unemployment rate was pushed down by 0.3 per cent to 6.4 per cent.

Alberta is just now below the national average of 6.5 per cent unemployment.

The total labour force grew by 13,300, with the biggest increase coming from those aged 55 or older (+19,500), while the number of young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24 working grew by 8,500. However, there was a reduction among those aged 25-54 by 14,700.

The sectors that experienced the biggest upticks in employment in Alberta include construction (+9,200), finance, insurance, real estate, and leasing (+6,200), and healthcare and social assistance (+5,500).

On the other hand, job losses were seen in professional, scientific and technical services (-4,100), forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas (-3,400), and transportation and warehousing (-2,400).

The Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca-Grande-Prairie-Peace River region had the best unemployment rate in Alberta at 5.2 per cent in January. Lethbridge-Medicine Hat was the highest at 6.9 per cent.

  • Banff-Jasper-Rocky Mountain House and Athabasca-Grande-Prairie-Peace River: 5.2% unemployment (up 0.2%)
  • Red Deer: 5.4% unemployment (down 0.7%)
  • Camrose-Drumheller: 6% unemployment (up 1.5%)
  • Calgary: 6.5% unemployment (up 0.1%)
  • Edmonton: 6.6% unemployment (down 0.3%)
  • Wood Buffalo-Cold Lake: 6.7% unemployment (unchanged)
  • Lethbridge-Medicine Hat: 6.9% unemployment (up 0.6%)

You can find the full provincial employment statistics on the Government of Alberta’s website, while the national picture is on Statistics Canada.

READ MORE: Unemployment rate drops to 6.5% in January despite 25,000 job losses: StatCan

by David Opinko