The federal government released their August 2026 job numbers last week, and job numbers are down in Alberta.
The net decrease to jobs between July and last month was 8,900. When we add that to the job losses in July, Alberta lost 16,200 jobs so far over the summer, completely wiping out the 7,800 gain we saw between May and June.
Gender & age
Among workers 25 years of age and older, men saw the larger increase between July and August. There were 9,600 more men over 25 at work last month compared to July. Those numbers increase to a gain of 13,700 if you include those who are 15–24 years old.
Women, however, saw an decrease of 15,300 in the number of those 25 years old and older finding new work compared to those working in July. When you add in the younger cohort, it worsens to a 22,500 loss.
Statistics Canada provided no data on non-binary or intersex workers.
Speaking of age, of all the provinces in Canada, Alberta had the second fewest older people as a percentage of the total workforce last month.
| NL | 55,100 | 245,000 | 22.49% |
| NB | 90,400 | 408,600 | 22.12% |
| NS | 117,900 | 540,500 | 21.81% |
| PEI | 20,700 | 95,600 | 21.65% |
| QC | 965,200 | 4,588,700 | 21.03% |
| BC | 612,800 | 2,949,200 | 20.78% |
| ON | 1,718,100 | 8,306,500 | 20.68% |
| SK | 122,800 | 621,800 | 19.75% |
| AB | 502,800 | 2,661,100 | 18.89% |
| MB | 135,900 | 756,100 | 17.97% |
Compared to other provinces
Here’s how Alberta’s job numbers compare to the other provinces:
| NS | 537,900 | 540,500 | 2,600 | 0.48% |
| SK | 619,200 | 621,800 | 2,600 | 0.42% |
| NB | 406,200 | 408,600 | 2,400 | 0.59% |
| NL | 243,600 | 245,000 | 1,400 | 0.57% |
| MB | 755,600 | 756,100 | 500 | 0.07% |
| PEI | 96,000 | 95,600 | -400 | -0.42% |
| BC | 2,954,700 | 2,949,200 | -5,500 | -0.19% |
| AB | 2,670,000 | 2,661,100 | -8,900 | -0.33% |
| ON | 8,324,600 | 8,306,500 | -18,100 | -0.22% |
| QC | 4,607,200 | 4,588,700 | -18,500 | -0.40% |
Alberta was 1 of 5 provinces that saw job numbers drop, and of those 5, Alberta had the third largest decrease in terms of absolute numbers. As a percentage of total jobs, Alberta still had the third largest decrease.
Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan were tied for the largest increase in the country, each gaining 2,600 jobs.
By industry
Only 8 job sectors in Alberta actually saw an increase in jobs in August. Of those,“wholesale and retail trade” had the highest gains: 10,400.
Most of the remaining sectors reported by Statistics Canada saw job losses, with the “accomodation and food services” sector losing the most, at 8,800 jobs:
| Accomodation & food services | -8,800 |
| Educational services | -7,700 |
| Utilities | -5,600 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental & leasing | -3,900 |
| Other services (except public administration) | -3,700 |
| Information, culture & recreation | -1,300 |
| Manufacturing | -200 |
| Agriculture | -100 |
Combined, these 8 industries lost over 31,000 jobs.
Compared to a year ago, the industry with the highest job gains was “health care and social assistance”, increasing by 49,000 jobs, a jump of 14.28%.
The “accommodation and food services” sector saw the largest decrease over the last year, losing over 17,000 jobs, which was roughly 11% of its total workforce.
| Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | Change | % change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health care & social assistance | 343,100 | 392,100 | 49,000 | 14.28% |
| Wholesale & retail trade | 346,000 | 381,800 | 35,800 | 10.35% |
| Construction | 248,500 | 275,100 | 26,600 | 10.70% |
| Manufacturing | 138,700 | 153,900 | 15,200 | 10.96% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 94,700 | 100,200 | 5,500 | 5.81% |
| Public administration | 134,500 | 136,400 | 1,900 | 1.41% |
| Agriculture | 37,000 | 38,800 | 1,800 | 4.86% |
| Information, culture & recreation | 94,300 | 96,100 | 1,800 | 1.91% |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil & gas | 140,100 | 138,900 | -1,200 | -0.86% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental & leasing | 150,100 | 148,800 | -1,300 | -0.87% |
| Business, building & other support services | 83,600 | 81,700 | -1,900 | -2.27% |
| Transportation & warehousing | 156,300 | 153,500 | -2,800 | -1.79% |
| Professional, scientific & technical services | 244,600 | 238,900 | -5,700 | -2.33% |
| Utilities | 24,300 | 17,600 | -6,700 | -27.57% |
| Educational services | 176,200 | 168,100 | -8,100 | -4.60% |
| Accommodation and food services | 156,700 | 139,300 | -17,400 | -11.10% |
Private & public sector
The report from Statistics Canada also shows that Alberta’s private sector grew by 8,700 between July and August, but that falls short of making up for the 9,400 private sector jobs lost in July. There were 95,800 more private-sector jobs as there were this time last year, however.
In comparison, public sector jobs were down by 2,600 over July, and Alberta had 12,600 fewer public sector workers compared to August 2025.
Self employed jobs were down by 5,000 over July but up by 4,200 over August 2025.
Part-time & full-time jobs
Part-time jobs shrunk last month. Alberta lost 3,000 part-time jobs (seasonally adjusted) between July and August.
In comparison, Alberta lost 5,800 full-time jobs during the same period, adding to the 4,400 full-time jobs lost between May and June and the 8,500 lost between June and July.
Alberta has seen a net gain of 41,600 full-time jobs in 2026, which works out to an average of 5,200 per month.
These full-time losses last month were all women workers (25,000), with 19,100 more men working full-time. For part-time jobs, it was a loss for men (5,400) and a gain for women (2,400).
In June 2019, the month before the Job Creation Tax Cut came into effect, there were 1,886,700 people working full-time. Last month, there were 2,197,000. That means that there are 316,100 more full-time jobs than there were before the UCP cut the tax on corporate profits.
While more full-time jobs does seem like a good thing, let’s take a look at how much of a percentage of total jobs are full-time jobs. In June 2019, full-time jobs made up 82.50% of all jobs in the province.
Last month, they were at 82.56%, so the percentage of Alberta workers being employed in full-time positions has also increased; although it is down from 82.97% in March, 82.84% in May, and 82.59% in June and July.
There were only a handful of times during 2023 when this number passed 82.5%, but it was always only marginally and came right back down the following month. And only once in 2024 (July) did it pass the mark. June and August were the only months in 2025 that it rose above 82.5%. So far, January, March, May, June, July, and August have been the only months in 2026 where it passed that mark.
Wages
Speaking of full-time jobs, median wages for full-time workers in Alberta decreased by 60¢ an hour to $34.00 an hour last month, down from $34.60 in July, $34.62 in June, $35.00 in May, and $36.06 in April. This is its lowest level since December 2024.
Part-time hourly wages, remained unchanged at $20 an hour—where they were in March, April, June, and July.
The median hourly wage for both full-time and part-time jobs decreased to $31.43, down 78¢ from $32.21 in July.
Alberta had the third highest median hourly wage of all the provinces, behind BC and Ontario. Alberta has been behind BC since 2023, except this past January, when they were briefly ahead and February and April when they were tied. There was also a brief period last year when Alberta was in third place, behind not only BC but also Ontario, as was the case last month.
In July, Alberta workers were 79¢ an hour behind those in BC. Last month, however, that gap increased to $1.79 behind. BC’s median hourly wage for both full-time and part-time wages was $33.22.
Speaking of which, Alberta was tied with Ontario for the second highest median
full-time hourly wage in August 2026, $1.58 behind BC.
| BC | $35.58 |
| ON | $34.00 |
| AB | $34.00 |
| QC | $33.00 |
| NL | $30.00 |
| SK | $30.00 |
| NS | $29.69 |
| NB | $28.89 |
| MB | $28.85 |
| PEI | $28.00 |
Alberta was the only province to see a decrease in median hourly wages for full-time workers over the past 12 months; although 3 provinces saw no increase.
| Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS | $28.47 | $29.69 | $1.22 |
| NB | $28.00 | $28.89 | $0.89 |
| PEI | $27.18 | $28.00 | $0.82 |
| BC | $34.92 | $35.58 | $0.66 |
| MB | $28.48 | $28.85 | $0.37 |
| QC | $32.67 | $33.00 | $0.33 |
| ON | $34.00 | $34.00 | $0.00 |
| NL | $30.00 | $30.00 | $0.00 |
| SK | $30.00 | $30.00 | $0.00 |
| AB | $34.07 | $34.00 | -$0.07 |
For part-time workers, Alberta was tied with PEI, Québec, and Ontario for the second-highest median hourly wage last month, up from fourth-highest in April but stuck at $20 since May.
| BC | $22.00 |
| PEI | $20.00 |
| QC | $20.00 |
| ON | $20.00 |
| AB | $20.00 |
| NL | $19.00 |
| MB | $19.00 |
| NB | $18.98 |
| SK | $18.60 |
| NS | $18.49 |
Alberta was one of 4 provinces that were tied for having the second lowest increase in part-time median hourly wages over the last year; although two provinces saw decreases.
| Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL | $17.00 | $19.00 | $2.00 |
| NB | $17.55 | $18.98 | $1.43 |
| PEI | $18.90 | $20.00 | $1.10 |
| BC | $21.00 | $22.00 | $1.00 |
| ON | $19.00 | $20.00 | $1.00 |
| MB | $18.00 | $19.00 | $1.00 |
| AB | $19.00 | $20.00 | $1.00 |
| QC | $19.23 | $20.00 | $0.77 |
| NS | $18.85 | $18.49 | -$0.36 |
| SK | $19.31 | $18.60 | -$0.71 |
By industry, Alberta wages increased in just 3 of the 16 reported sectors since July. They decreased in the other 13.
| Jul 2025 | Aug 2025 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | $33.00 | $34.75 | $1.75 |
| Agriculture | $25.22 | $26.00 | $0.78 |
| Manufacturing | $34.54 | $35.00 | $0.46 |
| Other services (except public administration) | $26.44 | $26.15 | -$0.29 |
| Utilities | $55.50 | $55.00 | -$0.50 |
| Accommodation & food services | $17.50 | $17.00 | -$0.50 |
| Public administration | $49.44 | $48.81 | -$0.63 |
| Health care & social assistance | $31.83 | $31.00 | -$0.83 |
| Wholesale & retail trade | $22.90 | $22.00 | -$0.90 |
| Business, building & other support services | $23.00 | $22.00 | -$1.00 |
| Transportation and warehousing | $35.00 | $33.65 | -$1.35 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental & leasing | $40.05 | $38.46 | -$1.59 |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil & gas | $50.00 | $48.00 | -$2.00 |
| Information, culture & recreation | $24.00 | $22.00 | -$2.00 |
| Educational services | $41.83 | $39.56 | -$2.27 |
| Professional, scientific & technical services | $43.27 | $39.76 | -$3.51 |
Over the last year, things seem a bit better, with wages decreasing in 9 sectors instead of 13.
| Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public administration | $43.71 | $48.81 | $5.10 |
| Manufacturing | $30.20 | $35.00 | $4.80 |
| Utilities | $51.25 | $55.00 | $3.75 |
| Health care & social assistance | $29.00 | $31.00 | $2.00 |
| Other services (except public administration) | $25.15 | $26.15 | $1.00 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental & leasing | $38.00 | $38.46 | $0.46 |
| Accommodation & food services | $17.00 | $17.00 | $0.00 |
| Business, building & other support services | $23.00 | $22.00 | -$1.00 |
| Construction | $36.00 | $34.75 | -$1.25 |
| Transportation & warehousing | $35.00 | $33.65 | -$1.35 |
| Wholesale & retail trade | $23.50 | $22.00 | -$1.50 |
| Information, culture & recreation | $23.50 | $22.00 | -$1.50 |
| Agriculture | $27.69 | $26.00 | -$1.69 |
| Educational services | $41.59 | $39.56 | -$2.03 |
| Professional, scientific & technical services | $42.31 | $39.76 | -$2.55 |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil & gas | $52.00 | $48.00 | -$4.00 |
Unemployment rate
Alberta saw its unemployment rate drop slightly from 7.0% in July to 6.8% last month. In August 2025, it was 8.2%.
Alberta’s labour force decreased last month, by 16,800. With having 8,900 more people actually working and 16,800 fewer available to work than in July, it makes sense that our unemployment rate improved slightly.
As far as how it compares with the rest of the country, Alberta had the country’s fourth highest unemployment rate, behind Newfoundland and Labrador (8.6%), Prince Edward Island (7.9%), and New Brunswick (7.3%).
Canada saw an decrease in employment last month, with jobs across the country dropping by 41,700, more than half of the 75,100 jobs they gained in July. Those losses were driven primarily by Québec (18,500), Ontario (18,100), and Alberta (8,900).
The national unemployment rate remained steady at 6.4%.
Alberta’s youth (15–24) unemployment rate was the highest in the country, up from 5th highest in May and 2nd highest in July. It was also higher than the national average of 12.9%.
| AB | 15.3 |
| NL | 15.1 |
| ON | 14.4 |
| NB | 14.1 |
| PEI | 13.9 |
| SK | 13.7 |
| BC | 13.2 |
| MB | 11.5 |
| NS | 10.1 |
| QC | 9.0 |
Alberta was tied with Manitoba for the fourth largest increase in its youth unemployment rate between July and August.
| Jul 2026 | Aug 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | 11.0 | 13.9 | 2.9 |
| BC | 11.6 | 13.2 | 1.6 |
| SK | 12.4 | 13.7 | 1.3 |
| MB | 10.7 | 11.5 | 0.8 |
| AB | 14.5 | 15.3 | 0.8 |
| ON | 14.4 | 14.4 | 0.0 |
| NB | 14.1 | 14.1 | 0.0 |
| QC | 9.0 | 9.0 | 0.0 |
| NL | 16.6 | 15.1 | -1.5 |
| NS | 11.8 | 10.1 | -1.7 |
Even though we had the highest youth unemployment rate in the country last month, it was lower than it was a year ago, when we also had the highest. that has resulted in a decrease in out youth employment rate, but only the second smallest decrease.
| Aug 2025 | Aug 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NB | 17.1 | 14.1 | -3.0 |
| NS | 13.0 | 10.1 | -2.9 |
| ON | 16.4 | 14.4 | -2.0 |
| QC | 11.0 | 9.0 | -2.0 |
| MB | 12.7 | 11.5 | -1.2 |
| AB | 16.5 | 15.3 | -1.2 |
| PEI | 14.3 | 13.9 | -0.4 |
| BC | 13.0 | 13.2 | 0.2 |
| NL | 14.5 | 15.1 | 0.6 |
| SK | 10.3 | 13.7 | 3.4 |
